AUDIENCE

consultation, audience, interview

(noun) a conference (usually with someone important); “he had a consultation with the judge”; “he requested an audience with the king”

audience

(noun) a gathering of spectators or listeners at a (usually public) performance; “the audience applauded”; “someone in the audience began to cough”

audience

(noun) the part of the general public interested in a source of information or entertainment; “every artist needs an audience”; “the broadcast reached an audience of millions”

hearing, audience

(noun) an opportunity to state your case and be heard; “they condemned him without a hearing”; “he saw that he had lost his audience”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

audience (plural audiences)

A group of people within hearing; specifically, a large gathering of people listening to or watching a performance, speech, etc. [from 15th c.]

(now rare) Hearing; the condition or state of hearing or listening. [from 14th c.]

A widespread or nationwide viewing or listening public, as of a TV or radio network or program.

A formal meeting with a state or religious dignitary. [from 16th c.]

The readership of a book or other written publication. [from 19th c.]

A following. [from 20th c.]

(historical) An audiencia (judicial court of the Spanish empire), or the territory administered by it.

Usage notes

• In some dialects, audience is used as a plurale tantum.

Synonyms

• hearership, listenership

• (large gathering of people watching a performance): spectators, crowd

Source: Wiktionary

Au"di*ence, n. Etym: [F. audience, L. audientia, fr. audire to hear. See Audible, a.]

1. The act of hearing; attention to sounds. Thou, therefore, give due audience, and attend. Milton.

2. Admittance to a hearing; a formal interview, esp. with a sovereign or the head of a government, for conference or the transaction of business. According to the fair play of the world, Let me have audience: I am sent to speak. Shak.

3. An auditory; an assembly of hearers. Also applied by authors to their readers. Fit audience find, though few. Milton. He drew his audience upward to the sky. Dryden. Court of audience, or Audience court (Eng.), a court long since disused, belonging to the Archbishop of Canterbury; also, one belonging to the Archbishop of York. Mozley & W.

– In general (or open) audience, publicly.

– To give audience, to listen; to admit to an interview.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition