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Eavesdrop vs Listening - What's the difference?

eavesdrop | listening |

As verbs the difference between eavesdrop and listening

is that eavesdrop is (to hear a conversation one is not intended to hear)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in while listening is present participle of lang=en.

As nouns the difference between eavesdrop and listening

is that eavesdrop is the dripping of rain from the eaves of a house while listening is action of the verb listening

As an adjective listening is

of something or someone that listens.

eavesdrop

English

Verb

(eavesdropp)
  • (senseid)To hear a conversation one is not intended to hear; to listen in.
    • I hope nobody was eavesdropping on our conversation last night, since it got so personal.

    Usage notes

    To eavesdrop usually implies the listener is purposefully trying to hear the conversation of others. To (overhear) is more often accidental.

    Synonyms

    * (hear conversation one is not intended to hear) overhear

    Derived terms

    * eavesdropper

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The dripping of rain from the eaves of a house
  • The space around a house on which such water drips
  • A concealed aperture through which an occupant of a building can surreptitiously listen to people talking at an entrance to the building
  • The act of intentionally hearing a conversation not intended to be heard

    • Synonyms

    * eavesdrip

    listening

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Of something or someone that listens.
    • Any listening person can tell she's lying.
  • Of something that is used in order to hear or to improve the ability to hear.
    • He could hear better when he used his listening device.
  • Of an action that is performed with caution and attention to sounds.
  • *
    • The safest cover lay close under the wall of the cañon, and here through the dense thickets Venters made his slow, listening advance toward the oval.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Action of the verb listening
  • *, chapter=10
    • , title= The Mirror and the Lamp , passage=It was a joy to snatch some brief respite, and find himself in the rectory drawing–room. Listening here was as pleasant as talking; just to watch was pleasant. The young priests who lived here wore cassocks and birettas; their faces were fine and mild, yet really strong, like the rector's face; and in their intercourse with him and his wife they seemed to be brothers.}}
  • Skill or ability of perceiving spoken language.

    • Verb

    (head)

    • Derived terms

    * listening post * listening station

    Anagrams

    * *