hearing

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition

1. n. The sense by which sound is perceived; the capacity to hear.
2. n. Range of audibility; earshot.
3. n. An opportunity to be heard.
4. n. Law A preliminary examination of an accused person.
5. n. Law The trial of an equity case.
6. n. A session, as of an investigatory committee or a grand jury, at which testimony is taken from witnesses.
7. adj. Able to hear: a deaf child born to hearing parents.

Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia

1. n. Perception of sound; the act of perceiving sound; the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived; audition: one of the five external senses. See ear.
2. n. Audience; opportunity to be heard.
3. n. A judicial investigation of a suit at law; attention to and consideration of the testimony and arguments in a cause between parties, with a view to a just decision: especially used of trial without a jury.
4. n. Distance within which sound may be heard; ear-shot: as, he was not within hearing.
5. n. A scolding; a lecture.
6. n. Something heard; something to hear; report; news.
7. n. Attendance on preaching.

Wiktionary

1. adj. Able to hear.
2. n. uncountable The sense used to perceive sound.
3. n. uncountable A proceeding at which discussions are heard.
4. n. countable, law A legal procedure done before a judge, without a jury, as with an evidentiary hearing.

GNU Webster's 1913

1. n. The act or power of perceiving sound; perception of sound; the faculty or sense by which sound is perceived.
2. n. Attention to what is delivered; opportunity to be heard; audience.
3. n. A listening to facts and evidence, for the sake of adjudication; a session of a court for considering proofs and determining issues.
4. n. Extent within which sound may be heard; sound; earshot.

WordNet 3.0

1. adj. able to perceive sound
2. n. an opportunity to state your case and be heard
3. n. a session (of a committee or grand jury) in which witnesses are called and testimony is taken
4. n. the range within which a voice can be heard
5. n. (law) a proceeding (usually by a court) where evidence is taken for the purpose of determining an issue of fact and reaching a decision based on that evidence
6. n. the act of hearing attentively
7. n. the ability to hear; the auditory faculty