v.
Pronunciation: ' hir
Function: verb
Inflected Form: heard \ ' h ə rd \ ; hear · ing \ ' hir-i ŋ \
Etymology: Middle English heren, from Old English h ī eran; akin to Old High German h ō ren to hear, and probably to Latin cav ē re to be on guard, Greek akouein to hear
Date: before 12th century
transitive verb
1 : to perceive or apprehend by the ear
2 : to gain knowledge of by hearing
3 a : to listen to with attention : HEED b : ATTEND < hear mass>
4 a : to give a legal hearing to b : to take testimony from < hear witnesses>
intransitive verb
1 : to have the capacity of apprehending sound
2 a : to gain information : LEARN b : to receive communication <haven't heard from her lately>
3 : to entertain the idea ― used in the negative <wouldn't hear of it>
4 ― often used in the expression Hear! Hear! to express approval (as during a speech)
– hear · er \ ' hir- ə r \ noun