Observation - Definitions from Dictionary.com

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Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

ob·ser·va·tion

Audio Help [ob-zur-vey-shuh

n] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	an act or instance of noticing or perceiving.

2.	an act or instance of regarding attentively or watching.

3.	the faculty or habit of observing or noticing.

4.	notice: to escape a person's observation.

5.	an act or instance of viewing or noting a fact or occurrence for some scientific or other special purpose: the observation of blood pressure under stress.

6.	the information or record secured by such an act.

7.	something that is learned in the course of observing things: My observation is that such clouds mean a storm.

8.	a remark, comment, or statement based on what one has noticed or observed.

9.	the condition of being observed.

10.

Navigation.

a.	the measurement of the altitude or azimuth of a heavenly body for navigational purposes.

b.	the information obtained by such a measurement.

11.	Obsolete. observance, as of the law.

[Origin: 1350–1400; ME < L observātiōn- (s. of observātiō), equiv. to observāt(us) (ptp. of observāre to observe) + -iōn- -ion

]

—Synonyms 3. attention. 8. pronouncement, opinion. See remark.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Observation

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

ob·ser·va·tion Audio Help (ŏb'zər-vā'shən) Pronunciation Key
n.

1. The act or faculty of observing.
2. The fact of being observed.
3. The act of noting and recording something, such as a phenomenon, with instruments.
4. The result or record of such notation: a meteorological observation.
1. The act of noting and recording something, such as a phenomenon, with instruments.
2. The result or record of such notation: a meteorological observation.
A comment or remark. See Synonyms at comment.
An inference or a judgment that is acquired from or based on observing.

ob'ser·va'tion·al adj., ob'ser·va'tion·al·ly adv.

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
observation

1382, from L. observationem (nom. observatio) "a watching over," from observatus, pp. of observare (see observe). Meaning "a remark in reference to something observed" first recorded 1593.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

observation
noun
1.	the act of making and recording a measurement
2.	the act of observing; taking a patient look
3.	a remark expressing careful consideration
4.	facts learned by observing; "he reported his observations to the mayor"
5.	the act of noticing or paying attention; "he escaped the notice of the police" [syn: notice]

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
ˌobserˈvation1 [ob-] noun

the act of noticing or watching
Example: She is in hospital for observation.

Arabic:	مُراقَبَه
Chinese (Simplified):	观察
Chinese (Traditional):	觀察
Czech:	pozorování
Danish:	observation
Dutch:	observatie
Estonian:	vaatlus
Finnish:	tarkkailu
French:	observation, surveillance
German:	die Beobachtung
Greek:	παρατήρηση, παρακολούθηση
Hungarian:	megfigyelés
Icelandic:	eftirlit
Indonesian:	penelitian
Italian:	osservazione

Japanese:	観察
Korean:	관찰
Latvian:	novērošana
Lithuanian:	stebėjimas, sekimas
Norwegian:	iakttakelse, observasjon
Polish:	obserwacja
Portuguese (Brazil):	observação
Portuguese (Portugal):	observação
Romanian:	observaţie, supraveghere
Russian:	наблюдение
Slovak:	pozorovanie
Slovenian:	opazovanje
Spanish:	observación
Swedish:	observation, iakttagelse
Turkish:	gözlem

ˌobserˈvation2 [ob-] noun

a remark

Arabic:	مُلاحَظَه
Chinese (Simplified):	评述
Chinese (Traditional):	評述
Czech:	postřeh
Danish:	bemærkning
Dutch:	opmerking
Estonian:	märkus
Finnish:	huomautus
French:	observation
German:	die Bemerkung
Greek:	παρατήρηση, σχόλιο
Hungarian:	megjegyzés
Icelandic:	athugasemd
Indonesian:	komentar
Italian:	osservazione

Japanese:	発言
Korean:	(관찰에 입각한) 비평, 소견
Latvian:	piezīme
Lithuanian:	pastaba
Norwegian:	bemerkning
Polish:	uwaga
Portuguese (Brazil):	observação
Portuguese (Portugal):	comentário
Romanian:	observaţie
Russian:	замечание
Slovak:	postreh
Slovenian:	pripomba
Spanish:	observación, comentario
Swedish:	anmärkning, yttrande
Turkish:	söz

See also: observance, observant, observatory, observer, observe

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
Main Entry: ob·ser·va·tion
Pronunciation: "äb-s&r-'vA-sh&n, -z&r-
Function: noun
1 : the noting of a fact oroccurrence (as in nature) often involving the measurement of some magnitude with suitable instruments observations>; also : a record so obtained
2 : close watch or examination (as to monitor or diagnose a condition) observation> observation>

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Observation

Ob*serv"ance\, n. [F. observance, L. observantia. See Observant.]

1. The act or practice of observing or noticing with attention; a heeding or keeping with care; performance; -- usually with a sense of strictness and fidelity; as, the observance of the Sabbath is general; the strict observance of duties.

It is a custom More honored in the breach than the observance. --Shak.

2. An act, ceremony, or rite, as of worship or respect; especially, a customary act or service of attention; a form; a practice; a rite; a custom.

At dances These young folk kept their observances. --Chaucer.

Use all the observance of civility. --Shak.

Some represent to themselves the whole of religion as consisting in a few easy observances. --Rogers.

O I that wasted time to tend upon her, To compass her with sweet observances! --Tennyson.

3. Servile attention; sycophancy. [Obs.]

Salads and flesh, such as their haste could get, Served with observance. --Chapman.

This is not atheism, But court observance. --Beau. & Fl.

Syn: Observance, Observation. These words are discriminated by the two distinct senses of observe. To observe means (1) to keep strictly; as, to observe a fast day, and hence, observance denotes the keeping or heeding with strictness; (2) to consider attentively, or to remark; and hence, observation denotes either the act of observing, or some remark made as the result thereof. We do not say the observation of Sunday, though the word was formerly so used. The Pharisees were curious in external observances; the astronomers are curious in celestial observations.

Love rigid honesty, And strict observance of impartial laws. --Roscommon.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

observation

observation: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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