/ri kon"euh seuhns, -zeuhns/ , n.
1. the act of reconnoitering.
2. Mil. a search made for useful military information in the field, esp. by examining the ground.
3. Survey. , Civ. Engin. a general examination or survey of a region, usually followed by a detailed survey.
4. Geol. an examination or survey of the general geological characteristics of a region.
Also, reconnoissance .
[ 1800-10; reconoissance RECOGNIZANCE ]