listening

lis·ten  (lsn)

intr.v. lis·tened, lis·ten·ing, lis·tens

1. To make an effort to hear something: listen to the radio; listening for the bell.

2. To pay attention; heed: "She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit" Maya Angelou.

n.

An act of listening: Would you like to give the CD a listen before buying it?

Phrasal Verb:

listen in

1. To listen to a conversation between others; eavesdrop.

2. To tune in and listen to a broadcast.

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[Middle English listenen, alteration (influenced by listen, to list, listen; see list⁴) of Old English hlysnan; see kleu- in Indo-European roots.]

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listen·er n.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

listening - the act of hearing attentively; "you can learn a lot by just listening"; "they make good music--you should give them a hearing" hearing auscultation - listening to sounds within the body (usually with a stethoscope) sensing, perception - becoming aware of something via the senses rehearing, relistening - the act of hearing again