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listen

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Listen is defined as to make an effort to hear or pay close attention to someone or something.

(verb)

An example of listen is eavesdropping.

See listen in Webster's New World College Dictionary

intransitive verb

to make a conscious effort to hear; attend closely, so as to hear
to pay close attention; take advice

Origin: ME listnen, felt as freq. of listen (see list) < OE hlysnan (akin to MHG lüsenen)

transitive verb

Archaic to pay attention to by listening; hear

noun

the act of listening

Related Forms:

listener noun

See listen in American Heritage Dictionary 4

intransitive verb lis·tened, lis·ten·ing, lis·tens

To make an effort to hear something: listen to the radio; listening for the bell.
To pay attention; heed: “She encouraged me to listen carefully to what country people called mother wit” (Maya Angelou).

noun

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

Phrasal Verb: listen in To listen to a conversation between others; eavesdrop. To tune in and listen to a broadcast.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English listenen

Origin: , alteration (influenced by listen, to list, listen; see list⁴)

Origin: of Old English hlysnan; see kleu- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms:

lisˈten·er noun

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