Definition of: perceive

(pər·sēv′) v.t. & v.i. ·ceived, ·ceiv·ing
1. To become aware of (something) through the senses; see, hear, feel, taste, or smell.
2. To come to understand; apprehend with the mind. [<AF perceivre, OF perçoivre <L percipere seize, perceive <per- thoroughly + capere take]
—per·ceiv′a·ble adjective
—per·ceiv′a·bly adverb
—per·ceiv′er noun Synonyms: apprehend, comprehend, conceive, know, understand. We perceive, primarily, what is presented through the senses. We apprehend what is presented to the mind, whether through the senses or by any other means. That which we apprehend we catch, as with the hand; that which we conceive we are able to analyze and recompose in our mind; that which we comprehend we, as it were, grasp around, take together, seize, embrace wholly within the mind. Compare APPREHEND, KNOW, KNOWLEDGE, LEARN. Antonyms: ignore, lose, misapprehend, misconceive, miss, overlook.