hearing

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

• noun The sense by which sound is perceived; the capacity to hear.
• noun Range of audibility; earshot.
• noun An opportunity to be heard.
• noun A legal proceeding in which evidence is taken and arguments are given as the basis for a decision to be issued, either on some preliminary matter or on the merits of the case.
• noun A session, as of an investigatory committee or a grand jury, at which testimony is taken from witnesses.
• adjective Able to hear.

from The Century Dictionary.

• noun 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.
• noun Audience; opportunity to be heard.
• noun 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.
• noun Distance within which sound may be heard; ear-shot: as, he was not within hearing.
• noun A scolding; a lecture.
• noun Something heard; something to hear; report; news.
• noun Attendance on preaching.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

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

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

• adjective Able to hear.
• noun uncountable The sense used to perceive sound.
• noun uncountable A proceeding at which discussions are heard.
• noun countable, law A legal procedure done before a judge, without a jury, as with an evidentiary hearing.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

• adjective able to perceive sound
• noun an opportunity to state your case and be heard
• noun a session (of a committee or grand jury) in which witnesses are called and testimony is taken
• noun the range within which a voice can be heard
• noun (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
• noun the act of hearing attentively
• noun the ability to hear; the auditory faculty