As a Noun: 1. A person who can hear. 2. The sense of being able to hear sounds, especially speech; the sense of hearing. As a Verb or Adjective: 1. To learn about news or information because someone tells you about it, even if they tell you in sign language. English = hear about. 2. To be able to hear, to be able to hear speech, to be a hearing person. English = (be) hearing.