### Definition
**Seeing** (noun) — the act or process by which a person perceives something visually. It refers to the **faculty or sense of sight**, enabling the recognition of shapes, light, color, and movement.
### Pronunciation
/ˈsiːɪŋ/
### Detailed description
- The word *seeing* derives from the verb *see*, meaning to perceive with the eyes or to understand mentally.
- In general use, it denotes both the **physical act of vision** and the **experience of perception**.
- In **astronomy**, the term *seeing* also describes the **atmospheric conditions affecting the clarity of telescopic observations**—for instance, how turbulence in Earth’s atmosphere distorts the image of celestial bodies.
### Example usage
> "Her seeing improved after she got new glasses."
> "Astronomers reported poor seeing due to unstable air currents."
### Related forms
- *see* — verb
- *seen* — past participle
- *sight* — synonymous noun relating to the sense of vision
### Etymology
Originates from Old English *seon*, related to Old High German *sehan* and Gothic *saíƕan*, all meaning “to see.”
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**Author’s summary:** The term *seeing* describes the human sense or act of vision and, in astronomy, the clarity of perception affected by atmospheric conditions.
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Dictionary.com — 2025-11-29