observation


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ob·ser·va·tion

 (ŏb′zər-vā′shən)
n.
1.
a. The act of observing: observations of a rare bird.
b. The power or faculty of observing.
c. The fact of being observed: kept the suspect under observation.
2.
a. The act or process of perceiving something, such as a phenomenon, often by means of an instrument, and making a record of the resulting information.
b. The result or record of such an act or process: a meteorological observation.
3. An inference, judgment, or remark that is made by observing: made some sharp observations about the movie.

ob′ser·va′tion·al adj.
ob′ser·va′tion·al·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

observation

(ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən)
n
1. the act of observing or the state of being observed
2. a comment or remark
3. detailed examination of phenomena prior to analysis, diagnosis, or interpretation: the patient was under observation.
4. the facts learned from observing
5. an obsolete word for observance
6. (Nautical Terms) nautical
a. a sight taken with an instrument to determine the position of an observer relative to that of a given heavenly body
b. the data so taken
ˌobserˈvational adj
ˌobserˈvationally adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ob•ser•va•tion

(ˌɒb zɜrˈveɪ ʃən)

n.
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 observation.
5. an act or instance of watching or noting something for a scientific or other special purpose.
6. the information or record secured by such an act.
7. something learned in the course of observing things.
8. a remark or statement based on what one has observed; pronouncement.
9. the condition of being observed.
10. the measurement of the altitude or azimuth of a heavenly body for navigational purposes.
11. Obs. observance, as of the law.
[1350–1400; Middle English < Latin]
ob`ser•va′tion•al, adj.
ob`ser•va′tion•al•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

ob·ser·va·tion

(ŏb′zər-vā′shən)
1. The act of perceiving and recording something with instruments.
2. The result or record of such notation: a meteorological observation.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

observation

  • sight - A measurement or observation taken with an optical device.
  • auspice - Originally denoted the observation of bird flight as a form of divination.
  • noegenesis - The generating or obtaining of new knowledge from experience through observation and the inferring of relations.
  • contemplate, contemplation - The base of contemplate and comtemplation is Latin templum, "open space for observation."
Farlex Trivia Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.

observance

observation
1. 'observance'

The observance of a rule or custom is the practice of obeying it or following it. Observance is a fairly formal word.

Local councils should use their powers to ensure strict observance of laws.
2. 'observation'

You do not use observance to refer to the activity of watching someone or something carefully. The word you use is observation.

Stephens had crashed and was taken to hospital for observation.
By far the greatest part of his work is careful observation and precise thinking.
Collins COBUILD English Usage © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 2004, 2011, 2012
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun1.observation - the act of making and recording a measurementobservation - the act of making and recording a measurement
measurement, measuring, mensuration, measure - the act or process of assigning numbers to phenomena according to a rule; "the measurements were carefully done"; "his mental measurings proved remarkably accurate"
radio observation - an observation made with a radio telescope
2.observation - the act of observing; taking a patient look
looking, looking at, look - the act of directing the eyes toward something and perceiving it visually; "he went out to have a look"; "his look was fixed on her eyes"; "he gave it a good looking at"; "his camera does his looking for him"
monitoring - the act of observing something (and sometimes keeping a record of it); "the monitoring of enemy communications plays an important role in war times"
sighting - the act of observing; "several sightings of enemy troops were reported"
stargazing - observation of the stars
3.observation - a remark expressing careful consideration
comment, remark, input - a statement that expresses a personal opinion or belief or adds information; "from time to time she contributed a personal comment on his account"
4.observation - facts learned by observing; "he reported his observations to the mayor"
fact - a piece of information about circumstances that exist or events that have occurred; "first you must collect all the facts of the case"
scientific fact - an observation that has been confirmed repeatedly and is accepted as true (although its truth is never final)
5.observation - the act of noticing or paying attention; "he escaped the notice of the police"
attending, attention - the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others
mind - attention; "don't pay him any mind"
remark - explicit notice; "it passed without remark"
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

observation

noun
2. comment, finding, thought, note, statement, opinion, remark, explanation, reflection, exposition, utterance, pronouncement, annotation, elucidation, obiter dictum This book contains observations about the nature of addiction.
3. remark, thought, comment, statement, opinion, reflection, assertion, utterance, animadversion Is that a criticism or just an observation?
4. observance of, attention to, compliance with, notice of, honouring of, adherence to, fulfilment of, discharge of, heeding of, carrying out of strict observation of oil quotas
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

observation

noun
1. The act of noting, observing, or taking into account:
2. The act of observing, often for an extended time:
3. An expression of fact or opinion:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
مُراقَبَهمُلاحَظَه
pozorování
bemærkningobservation
havainnointihavaintopäätelmäpäätös
megfigyelés
athugasemdeftirlit
所見観察観察結果論評
observareobservaţie
opazovanje

observation

[ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃən]
A. N
1. (= perception) → observación f
he is under observation in hospitallo tienen en observación en el hospital
the police are keeping him under observationla policía lo tiene vigilado
we can keep the valley under observation from heredesde aquí dominamos el valle
powers of observationcapacidad fsing de observación
to escape observationpasar inadvertido
2. (= remark) → observación f, comentario m
"Observations on Sterne""Apuntes mpl sobre Sterne"
3. [of rule etc] → observancia f, cumplimiento m
B. CPD observation car N (Rail) → vagón-mirador m, coche m panorámico
observation post N (Mil) → puesto m de observación
observation tower Ntorre f de vigilancia
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

observation

[ˌɒbzərˈveɪʃən] n
(= scrutiny) → observation f
powers of observation → sens de l'observation
She has keen powers of observation → Elle a un grand sens de l'observation.
(by police)surveillance f
she's under observation → elle est sous surveillance
[patient] → observation f
He has been taken into hospital for observation → Il a été amené à l'hôpital, en observation.
(= remark) → observation fobservation deck nterrasse f panoramiqueobservation post nposte m d'observationobservation tower nmirador mobservation ward nsalle f d'observation
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

observation

n
Beobachtung f; to keep somebody/something under observationjdn/etw unter Beobachtung halten; (by police) → jdn/etw überwachen or observieren (form); observation of natureNaturbeobachtung f; to take an observation (Naut) → das Besteck nehmen; powers of observationBeobachtungsgabe f; he’s in hospital for observationer ist zur Beobachtung im Krankenhaus; to escape somebody’s observation(von jdm) unbemerkt bleiben, jdm entgehen
(of rules, Sabbath)Einhalten nt
(= remark)Bemerkung f, → Äußerung f; observations on KantBetrachtungen über or zu Kant; his observations on the experimentseine Versuchserläuterungen

observation

:
observation car
n (Rail) → Aussichtswagen m, → Panoramawagen m
observation deck
nAussichtsdeck nt
observation lounge
nAussichtsrestaurant nt
observation post
observation tower
observation ward
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

observation

[ˌɒbzəˈveɪʃn] n
a. (gen) → osservazione f; (of the law) → osservanza
the police are keeping him under observation → la polizia lo tiene sotto sorveglianza
he is under observation in hospital → è in ospedale sotto osservazione
powers of observation → spirito d'osservazione
to escape observation → sfuggire alla sorveglianza
b. (remark) → osservazione f, commento
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

observe

(əbˈzəːv) verb
1. to notice. I observed her late arrival.
2. to watch carefully. She observed his actions with interest.
3. to obey. We must observe the rules.
4. to make a remark. `It's a lovely day', he observed.
obˈservance noun
1. the act of obeying rules etc. the observance of the law.
2. the act of observing (a tradition etc). the observance of religious holidays.
obˈservant adjective
quick to notice. An observant boy remembered the car's registration number.
ˌobserˈvation (ob-) noun
1. the act of noticing or watching. She is in hospital for observation.
2. a remark.
obˈservatoryplural obˈservatories noun
a place for observing and studying the stars, weather etc.
obˈserver noun
a person who observes.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

observation

n. observación, examen, estudio.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

observation

n observación f
English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.
References in classic literature ?
Under the confusion of names, it has been an easy task to transfer to a republic observations applicable to a democracy only; and among others, the observation that it can never be established but among a small number of people, living within a small compass of territory.
'That while this Association is deeply sensible of the advantages which must accrue to the cause of science, from the production to which they have just adverted--no less than from the unwearied researches of Samuel Pickwick, Esq., G.C.M.P.C., in Hornsey, Highgate, Brixton, and Camberwell--they cannot but entertain a lively sense of the inestimable benefits which must inevitably result from carrying the speculations of that learned man into a wider field, from extending his travels, and, consequently, enlarging his sphere of observation, to the advancement of knowledge, and the diffusion of learning.
She appeared completely riddled with craters, and her essentially volcanic character was apparent at each observation. By the absence of refraction in the rays of the planets occulted by her we conclude that she is absolutely devoid of an atmosphere.
After breakfast we will go on shore and choose a post for observation."
That the dog behaves in this way is matter of observation, but that it "knows" or "remembers" anything is an inference, and in fact a very doubtful one.
Containing a few common matters, with a very uncommon observation upon them.
I have had no opportunity to find out any thing about the upper classes by my own observation, but from what I hear said about them I judge that what they lack in one or two of the bad traits the canaille have, they make up in one or two others that are worse.
The accumulation of the clouds in the atmosphere prevented all observation on the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th, and 10th of December.
Only by taking infinitesimally small units for observation (the differential of history, that is, the individual tendencies of men) and attaining to the art of integrating them (that is, finding the sum of these infinitesimals) can we hope to arrive at the laws of history.
He has the power of observation and that of deduction.
To be the friend of Swiveller you must reject all circumstantial evidence, all reason, observation, and experience, and repose a blind belief in the bookcase.
These unhappy people were proposing schemes for persuading monarchs to choose favourites upon the score of their wisdom, capacity, and virtue; of teaching ministers to consult the public good; of rewarding merit, great abilities, eminent services; of instructing princes to know their true interest, by placing it on the same foundation with that of their people; of choosing for employments persons qualified to exercise them, with many other wild, impossible chimeras, that never entered before into the heart of man to conceive; and confirmed in me the old observation, "that there is nothing so extravagant and irrational, which some philosophers have not maintained for truth."