listen

Verb

WordNet 3.0

Verb (3)

hear with intention“Listen to the sound of this cello”
listen and pay attention“Listen to your father”“We must hear the expert before we make a decision”Synonyms: hear take heed
pay close attention to; give heed to“Heed the advice of the old men”Synonyms: heed mind

Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Listen \Lis"ten\ (l[i^]s"'n), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Listened (l[i^]s"'nd); p. pr. & vb. n. Listening.] [OE. listnen, listen, lustnen, lusten, AS. hlystan; akin to hlyst hearing, OS. hlust, Icel. hlusta to listen, hlust ear, AS. hlosnian to wait in suspense, OHG. hlos[=e]n to listen, Gr. kly`ein, and E. loud. [root]41. See Loud, and cf. List to listen.]

1.To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken; to attend. [1913 Webster]

When we have occasion to listen, and give a more particular attention to some sound, the tympanum is drawn to a more than ordinary tension.— Holder.[1913 Webster]

2.To give heed; to yield to advice; to follow admonition; to obey. [1913 Webster]

Listen to me, and by me be ruled.— Tennyson.[1913 Webster]

To listen after, to take an interest in. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

Soldiers note forts, armories, and magazines; scholars listen after libraries, disputations, and professors.— Fuller.

Syn: To attend; hearken. See Attend. [1913 Webster]

Listen \Lis"ten\, v. t. To attend to. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]