| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| audience |
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| SYLLABICATION: | au·di·ence |
| PRONUNCIATION: |  ô d - ns |
| NOUN: | 1a. The spectators or listeners assembled at a performance, for example, or attracted by a radio or television program. b. The readership for printed matter, as for a book. 2. A body of adherents; a following: The tenor expanded his audience by recording popular songs as well as opera. 3. A formal hearing, as with a religious or state dignitary. 4. An opportunity to be heard or to express one's views. 5. The act of hearing or attending. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old French, from Latin audientia, from audins, audient-, present participle of aud re, to hear. See au- in Appendix I.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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