auditory

American  

[aw-di-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee-] / ˈɔ dɪˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i- /

adjective

1. Anatomy, Physiology. pertaining to hearing, to the sense of hearing, or to the organs of hearing.

2. perceived through or resulting from the sense of hearing.

   auditory hallucinations.

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noun

Archaic.

auditories plural

1. an assembly of hearers; audience.

2. an auditorium, especially the nave of a church.

auditory British  

/ ˈɔːdɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to hearing, the sense of hearing, or the organs of hearing

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noun

1. an archaic word for audience auditorium

auditory Scientific  

/ ô′dĭ-tôr′ē /

1. Relating to or involving the organs or sense of hearing.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• preauditory
  adjective
• auditorily
  adverb
• auditorially
  adverb
• postauditory
  adjective

Inflected Forms

noun

• auditories
  plural

Etymology

Origin of auditory

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin audītōrius relating to hearing. See auditor, -tory ¹

Explanation

If you describe something as auditory, it is related to the process of hearing. If someone says "Surrender Dorothy" and you hear "Where's the laundry," you have an auditory problem. The word auditory is based on the Latin word audire, meaning to hear. If you have an auditory processing disorder, you may have trouble discerning conversation in a noisy room, or hear a ringing sound at all times. Some teachers think there's something wrong with their students' auditory capacity, but actually they're just being ignored.

Related Words

• audible
• aural