Perceive definition

pər-sēv

Words form:

Frequency:

To become aware (of) through one of the senses, esp. through sight.

verb

To grasp mentally; take note (of); observe.

verb

To see, to be aware of, to understand.

verb

To achieve understanding of; apprehend.

Einstein perceived that energy and matter are equivalent.

verb

To become aware of (something) directly through any of the senses, especially sight or hearing.

We could perceive three figures in the fog.

verb

To cause or allow the mind to become aware of (a stimulus).

The ear perceives sounds.

verb

To regard or consider; deem.

An old technology that is still perceived as useful; a politician who is perceived to be a dissembler.

verb

Perceive is defined as to see, hear or feel something or to have an understanding of something.

An example of perceive is what a woman might think about giving birth after hearing other women's birth stories.

verb

Origin of perceive

Middle English perceiven from Old French perceivre from Latin percipere per- per- capere to seize kap- in Indo-European roots

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
From Middle English perceiven, from Old French percevoir, perceveir, from Latin percipere, past participle perceptus (“take hold of, obtain, receive, observe"), from per (“by, through") + capere (“to take"); see capable. Compare conceive, deceive, receive.

From Wiktionary