— recognizable /rek"euhg nuy'zeuh beuhl, rek'euhg nuy"-/ , adj. — recognizability , n. — recognizably , adv. — recognizer , n.
/rek"euhg nuyz'/ , v.t., recognized, recognizing .
1. to identify as something or someone previously seen, known, etc.: He had changed so much that one could scarcely recognize him.
2. to identify from knowledge of appearance or characteristics: I recognized him from the description. They recognized him as a fraud.
3. to perceive as existing or true; realize: to be the first to recognize a fact.
4. to acknowledge as the person entitled to speak at a particular time: The Speaker recognized the Congressman from Maine.
5. to acknowledge formally as entitled to treatment as a political unit: The United States promptly recognized Israel.
6. to acknowledge or accept formally a specified factual or legal situation: to recognize a successful revolutionary regime as the de facto government of the country.
7. to acknowledge or treat as valid: to recognize a claim.
8. to acknowledge acquaintance with, as by a greeting, handshake, etc.
9. to show appreciation of (achievement, service, merit, etc.), as by some reward, public honor, or the like.
10. Law. to acknowledge (an illegitimate child) as one's own.
11. Biochem. , Immunol. to bind with, cleave, or otherwise react to (another substance) as a result of fitting its molecular shape or a portion of its shape.
Also, esp. Brit., recognise .
[ 1425-75; RECOGN(ITION) + -IZE; r. late ME racunnysen, recognisen reconuiss-, s. of reconuistre recognoscere, equiv. to re- RE- + cognoscere to KNOW 1 ; see COGNITION ]
Syn. 3. acknowledge, appreciate, understand, grant, concede.