discern
Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++LDOCE 5++di·scern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ ●○○ verb [transitive] formal 1 LOOK ATTHINK ABOUTto notice or understand something by thinking about it carefully 〔仔细思考之后〕觉察出，弄清楚，辨明discern what/where/why etc Officials were keen to discern how much public support there was. 官员们急切地想了解公众的支持率有多高。► see thesaurus at recognize2 to be able to see something by looking carefully 〔费劲地〕看出，辨认出 SYN perceive We could just discern a town in the distance. 我们依稀看到远处有一座城镇。 —discernible adjective —discernibly adverbn GRAMMAR: Usign the progressiveDiscern is not used in the progressive. You say: I discern a slight difference. ✗Don’t say: I am discerning a slight difference.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
discern• Politicians are good at discerning public opinion.• Then, discerning an unfilled need, he started a cigar-box company in the heart of the Southern Ontario tobacco fields.• There are many other issues where this same pattern can be discerned.• The wish to discern a framework for the Earth itself is something which dates back at least to the time of Ptolemy.• Only a few large, blotchy markings could be discerned by telescopic observers.• Lucas claims that such a relationship can be discerned in his data.• The telescope can discern objects incredibly distant in space.• The study of structure and function will to some extent discern similarities of process in these movements.• Presently, Cleo was able to discern the rattle of gentle snoring coming from the adjoining room.• Two distinct trends may be discerned, though the same writer may work in both conventions.discern what/where/why etc• From what you've seen as both founder and trustee, can you discern where art-philanthropy might be heading?• He was still quite unable to discern what the bequest could possibly be, let alone whether it was of any value.• I could not see far enough to discern what the far gym contained.Origin discern (1300-1400) Latin discernere “to separate”, from cernere “to sift”di·scern verb →n GRAMMAR1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable
to carefully it understand by about or Corpus something notice thinking
discern
di‧scern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/
verb [transitive not in progressive] formal
discern what/where/why etc
Officials were keen to discern how much public support there was.
2. to be able to see something by looking carefully
SYN perceive:
We could just discern a town in the distance.
—discernible adjective
—discernibly adverb
▪ recognize to know who someone is or what something is, especially because you have seen or heard them before: I hadn’t seen her for ten years, but I recognized her immediately. | Do you recognize this song?
▪identify to recognize someone or something and say who or what they are: As they came closer, I was able to identify two of the group. | It’s delicious but I can’t quite identify the taste.
▪distinguish to recognize and understand the difference between two or more things or people: By this age, kids can usually distinguish between right and wrong. | It’s often difficult to distinguish identical twins from each other.
▪make something/somebody out to be able to see or hear something or someone – used when it is very difficult to do this: In the distance, I could just make out the outline of an island. | He whispered something but I couldn’t make out what it was.
▪discern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/ formal to notice or understand something by looking carefully or thinking about it carefully: I thought I discerned a faint gleam of hope in his eyes. | A number of differences can be discerned in the data for the three countries.
di‧scern /dɪˈsɜːn $ -ɜːrn/
verb [transitive not in progressive] formal Date: 1300-1400
Language: Latin
Origin: discernere 'to separate', from cernere 'to sift'
1. to notice or understand something by thinking about it carefullyLanguage: Latin
Origin: discernere 'to separate', from cernere 'to sift'
discern what/where/why etc
2. to be able to see something by looking carefully
SYN perceive:
—discernible adjective
—discernibly adverb
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