The Complete Vocabulary Builder Workbook by BETTER WORDS R. B. Skinner

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perceive

verb

/pərˈsiv/

IPA:

Dictionary definition of perceive

To become aware of, sense, or comprehend something through the senses, intellect, or intuition.
"She could perceive a hint of sadness in his eyes, despite his attempts to hide it."

Detailed meaning of perceive

It involves the process of recognizing, interpreting, and understanding stimuli, whether they are physical sensations, emotions, ideas, or external phenomena. When we perceive something, we engage in the active cognitive process of taking in information, organizing it, and assigning meaning to it. Perception can occur through sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell, as well as through more abstract forms of perception, such as understanding or empathizing with someone's emotions or perspectives. It is a fundamental aspect of human cognition and allows us to navigate and interact with the world around us. Perception is subjective, influenced by individual experiences, biases, and cognitive processes, leading to different interpretations and understandings of the same stimuli.

Example sentences containing perceive

1. The artist's masterpiece was open to interpretation, allowing viewers to perceive different meanings.
2. It took her a moment to perceive the faint scent of flowers in the air.
3. He could perceive the distant sound of laughter coming from the park.
4. The child's vivid imagination allowed her to perceive magical creatures in the clouds.
5. He could perceive a change in her tone, indicating her growing frustration.
6. The detective's sharp instincts enabled him to perceive subtle clues at the crime scene.

History and etymology of perceive

The verb 'perceive' has its etymological origins in Latin. It can be traced back to the Latin word 'percipere,' which is a combination of 'per,' meaning 'through,' and 'capere,' meaning 'to take' or 'to seize.' 'Percipere' originally conveyed the idea of taking something in or seizing it completely, not just physically but also in terms of understanding and awareness. Over time, this Latin term evolved, and in Middle English, it gave rise to the word 'perceiven,' which meant to become aware of or apprehend something through the senses, intellect, or intuition. The etymology of 'perceive' thus highlights the act of taking in or grasping information or stimuli through various faculties of perception, emphasizing the cognitive and sensory aspects of understanding the world around us.

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Further usage examples of perceive

1. The professor encouraged her students to perceive complex issues from multiple perspectives.
2. The company's branding was carefully designed to help customers perceive them as trustworthy and reliable.
3. She could perceive a sense of excitement building up in the crowd as the concert approached.
4. It was difficult for him to perceive depth due to his impaired vision.
5. The artist skillfully used color and light to create a painting that made viewers perceive movement.
6. She can perceive the subtle changes in the music's tempo.
7. Dogs have the ability to perceive scents that humans cannot.
8. He couldn't perceive the hidden meaning behind her words.
9. The artist wanted viewers to perceive a sense of tranquility.
10. Some people can perceive colors in ways others cannot.
11. It's challenging to perceive the beauty of the night sky in the city.
12. The child could perceive the sadness in her mother's eyes.
13. Meditation can help you perceive your inner thoughts more clearly.
14. The detective tried to perceive a pattern in the clues.
15. She could perceive the tension in the room as they argued.
16. Scientists study how animals perceive their environments.
17. It's crucial to perceive the potential risks in this situation.
18. He struggled to perceive the significance of the ancient artifact.
19. The philosopher sought to perceive the nature of existence.
20. Art can help us perceive emotions that are hard to express.
21. He tried to perceive the truth hidden beneath the surface.
22. As he aged, his ability to perceive high-pitched sounds declined.
23. Cultural differences can affect how people perceive beauty.
24. They perceive reality differently due to their contrasting beliefs.
25. It's important to perceive the nuances in the text to understand it fully.