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observation - 5 dictionary results

ob⋅ser⋅va⋅tion

  [ob-zur-vey-shuhn]
Use observation in a Sentence
–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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To observation
ob·ser·va·tion   (ŏb'zər-vā'shən)   
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.
  3. A comment or remark. See Synonyms at comment.
  4. 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.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Observation

Ob`ser*va"tion\, n. [L. observatio: cf.F. observation.]

1. The act or the faculty of observing or taking notice; the act of seeing, or of fixing the mind upon, anything.

My observation, which very seldom lies. --Shak.

2. The result of an act, or of acts, of observing; view; reflection; conclusion; judgment.

In matters of human prudence, we shall find the greatest advantage in making wise observations on our conduct. --I. Watts.

3. Hence: An expression of an opinion or judgment upon what one has observed; a remark. "That's a foolish observation." --Shak.

To observations which ourselves we make We grow more partial for the observer's sake. --Pope.

4. Performance of what is prescribed; adherence in practice; observance. [Obs.]

We are to procure dispensation or leave to omit the observation of it in such circumstances. --Jer. Taylor.

5. (Science) (a) The act of recognizing and noting some fact or occurrence in nature, as an aurora, a corona, or the structure of an animal. (b) Specifically, the act of measuring, with suitable instruments, some magnitude, as the time of an occultation, with a clock; the right ascension of a star, with a transit instrument and clock; the sun's altitude, or the distance of the moon from a star, with a sextant; the temperature, with a thermometer, etc. (c) The information so acquired.

Note: When a phenomenon is scrutinized as it occurs in nature, the act is termed an observation. When the conditions under which the phenomenon occurs are artificial, or arranged beforehand by the observer, the process is called an experiment. Experiment includes observation.

To take an observation (Naut.), to ascertain the altitude of a heavenly body, with a view to fixing a vessel's position at sea.

Syn: Observance; notice; attention; remark; comment; note. See Observance.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : observation
Spanish: observación,
German: die Beobachtung,
Japanese: 観察
More Translations »

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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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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>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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