ˈhiriŋ, -rēŋ noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English heringe, from heren + -inge -ing
1.
a.
(1) : the act or power of apprehending sound ; specifically : one of the special senses of vertebrates that is concerned with the perception of sound, is mediated through the organ of Corti of the ear in mammals or through corresponding sensory receptors of the lagena in lower vertebrates, is normally sensitive in man to sound vibrations between 16 and 27,000 cycles per second but most receptive to those between 2000 and 5000 cycles per second, is conducted centrally by the cochlear branch of the auditory nerve, and is coordinated especially in the medial geniculate body
(2) : an analogous perception of vibration in other animals
the katydid … whose hearing is in slits on the front legs — C.D. & Mary Michener
b. : the extent within which sound may be heard : earshot
within hearing — Shakespeare
2.
a.
(1) : the act or an instance of actively or carefully listening (as to a speaker or performer) : audition , audience
a powerful version … and you should give it a hearing — Jazz Journal
a man knows by instinct whether he'll get a tender hearing — Eden Phillpotts
the orchestra did not impress me in one hearing as being quite up to Eastern … standards — Virgil Thomson
(2) dialect England : a church service : preaching
(3) : opportunity to be heard or to present one's side of a case
at least give me a hearing
the worst of men is entitled to a hearing
(4) : opportunity (as for a book or doctrine) to be generally known, evaluated, or appreciated : public attention or patronage
no other book of equal seriousness ever had so quick a hearing — J.D.Hart
a new trend which is struggling for a hearing — Edward Sapir
numerous and fantastic theories of sleep continue to find a hearing — Webb Garrison
b.
(1) : a trial in equity practice
(2) : a listening to arguments or proofs and arguments in interlocutory proceedings
(3) : a preliminary examination in criminal procedure
(4) : a trial before an administrative tribunal
c. : a session (as of a congressional committee) in which witnesses are heard and testimony is taken
the committee will hold hearings in a number of major cities
3. chiefly dialect : a piece of news : rumor ; especially : a choice bit of gossip
4. Scotland : scolding , lecture