Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
Definition: Observing |
ObservingAdjective1. Quick to notice; showing quick and keen perception. Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved. |
Date "observing" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1321. (references) |
(From Wikipedia, the free Encyclopedia)
Observation basically means watching something and taking note of anything it does. For instance, you might observe a bird flying by watching it closely. The sciences of biology and astronomy have their historical basis in observations by amateurs. There is pleasure in observation, which explains the participation of hobbyists.
The role of Observation in the Scientific Method
The scientific method includes the following steps:
Observation takes place in the first and fourth steps.
- 'observe' a phenomenon,
- 'guess' an explanation for the phenomenon,
- 'predict' a logical consequence of the guess,
- 'test' for the prediction, and
- 'review' for any mistakes.
Example: The Big Bang
In cosmology, the original observation was that we seem to live in a firmament. The sun seemed to rise and set, travelling on a huge transparent bowl which was set around our world. Various paradigms which explained our world, came and went, but the universe seemed static. Even Einstein believed this.
Observation: Hubble’s redshift
In the 1920s Edwin Hubble of Mount Wilson observatory [1], observed that the galaxies, on the whole, were moving away from each other. Thus we live in an ‘expanding universe’. The speed of expansion was apparently constant (Hubble’s ‘constant’), as evidenced by light from the galaxies, which was doppler-shifted in color toward the red side of the spectrum.
Einstein correspondingly modified his field equation. See Cosmological constant
Hypothesis about the abundance of the elements
If the universe is expanding, then it must have been much smaller and therefore hotter and denser in the past. George Gamow hypothesized that the abundance of the elements in the Periodic Table of the Elements, might be accounted for by nuclear reactions in a hot dense universe. He was disputed by Fred Hoyle, who invented the term 'Big Bang' to disparage it. Fermi and others noted that this process would have stopped after only the light elements were created, and thus did not account for the abundance of heavier elements.
Gamow’s prediction: One consequence of this hypothesis was a 5 - 10 Kelvin blackbody radiation temperature for the universe, after it cooled during the expansion.
Observation: the microwave background
In 1965, Arno A. Penzias and Robert W. Wilson announced that microwave radiation was surrounding us in all directions, at a level which was of the order of magnitude predicted by Gamow. Penzias and Wilson got the Nobel Prize for this discovery.
Big Bang Hypothesis now corroborated
After this piece of evidence, Gamow's hypothesis was now more likely. The age of the universe is currently estimated to be 13.7 billion years after the Big Bang.
Current observations
More refined measurements, such as those from the COBE satellite, are best fit by radiation from a pure 2.7 Kelvin blackbody.
Reference: J.A. Peacock, A.F. Heavens, A.T. Davies (eds.), 1989. Physics of the Early Universe. Proceedings of the 36th Scottish Universities Summer School in Physics (SUSSP). ISBN 0905945190.
Hobbies that involve observation\
Hobbies that involve observation depend for their interest on items being observed. A knowledge of these items and their habitats will develop over time in the observer, who may draw upon the experiences of others as conveyed in books or websites or by word of mouth. Most such hobbies involve classification of the items seen, with the precision and reliability of such classifications generally increasing over time. Depending on the geographic dispersal of the creatures or things being observed, pursuit of the hobby might well require or entice travel. When spotting natural creatures, an understanding of their migration patterns may be essential. Specific creatures may only be visible in particular places at certain times of the year.
There are parallels in those hobbies relating to man-made items. International political events may sometimes generate a gathering of VIP aircraft, and an international football match may cause a sudden influx of charter airliners to the region where the match is played.
There is likely to be a social aspect to such hobbies, since fellow enthusiasts will normally alert a hobbyist to forthcoming (or even current) opportunities to witness unusual items within the scope of the shared pastime. New technologies such as mobile telephones and the Internet have clearly increased the opportunities for passing such information between fellow enthusiasts when it is timely.
See also: amateur astronomy, birdwatching, and train spotting.
Source: adapted by the editor from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia under a copyleft GNU Free Documentation License (GFDL) from the article "Observation."
Synonym: ObservingSynonym: observant (adj). (additional references) |
| Context | Synonyms within Context (source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus). |
Attention | Adjective: attentive, mindful, observant, regardful; alive to, awake to; observing; Verb: alert, open-eyed; intent on, taken up with, occupied with, engaged in; engrossed in, wrapped in, absorbed, rapt, transfixed, riveted, mesmerized, hypnotized; glued to (the TV); breathless; preoccupied; (inattentive); watchful; (careful); breathless, undistracted, upon the stretch; on the watch; (expectant). |
| Source: adapted from Roget's Thesaurus. | |
Crosswords: Observing |
| English words defined with "observing": Almacantar ♦ decent ♦ Ebullioscope ♦ Friction brake ♦ Hieromancy ♦ lipreading ♦ Magnetic azimuth, Mineralize, Misobserve, monitoring ♦ observance, observation, Observative ♦ Phonoscope, Phosphoroscope, Pitot's tube, Prime-vertical transit instrument, Punctualist ♦ Regular canoness, religious ♦ -scope ♦ Sequacious, sight, sighting, Stargasing, Strategic position, survey ♦ telemeter, Transit circle, transit instrument ♦ unobservant, unseeing ♦ Vibroscope, view ♦ watching. (references) |
| Specialty definitions using "observing": Remote Observing System Automation, River Observing Station. (references) |
| Etymologies containing "observing": Observe. (references) |
| Domain | Usage | |
Screenplays | Oh, we don't mind observing you all. (The Purple Rose of Cairo; writing credit: Woody Allen.) A private study is an ideal place for observing facets of a man's character (The Seven-Per-Cent Solution; writing credit: Arthur Conan Doyle; Nicholas Meyer) | |
Lyrics | Observing what's below (And The Tide Rushes In; performing artist: The Moody Blues) | |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | ||
| Domain | Title |
Books |
|
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Thumbnail | Description & Credit | Thumbnail | Description & Credit |
 | Mormons observing a parade. It is a bright sunny day in Salt Lake City. Pictured are crowds of people and also small groups of people. (note: this could be a picture of any people watching an outdoor event, such as a parade). The Mormons are being studied for their low cancer death rate-about 20% below the national average. Credit: Linda Bartlett (photographer). |  | A black and white photograph of a female lab technician seated at a lab bench observing a Petri dish culture. Credit: CDC. |
 | Students observing a drainage project and its influence on mosquito populations during a mosquito control training course. Credit: CDC. |  | Ferdinand Hassler's observing tent Probably the original sketch was by John Farley. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |
 | Observing station on Tushar Mountain - 12146 feet 39th Parallel triangulation Triangulation party of William Eimbeck. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection. |  | Louisiana Department of Natural Resources scientist observing crab catch. Credit: America's Coastlines. |
 | Kayakers observing the marsh flora and fauna on a fall afternoon. Credit: America's Coastlines. |  | Survey launch towing dinghies after supplying observing camp. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |
 | Harley Nygren observing magnetic field. Credit: Paths Less Taken - NOAA at the Ends of the Earth. |  | ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve. A birder enjoys a winter morning observing the many species found on Bear Island. Credit: National Estuarine Research Reserve System (NERR). |
Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits. | |||
| Author | Quotation |
Disraeli | Amusement to an observing mind is study. |
Georg C. Lichtenberg | We cannot remember too often that when we observe nature, and especially the ordering of nature, it is always ourselves alone we are observing. |
Socrates | I was afraid that by observing objects with my eyes and trying to comprehend them with each of my other senses I might blind my soul altogether. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | |
| Author | Date | Quotation |
John Locke | 1690 | And therefore he that will look into the history of England, will find, that prerogative was always largest in the hands of our wisest and best princes; because the people, observing the whole tendency of their actions to be the public good, contested not what was done without law to that end: or, if any human frailty or mistake (for princes are but men, made as others) appeared in some small declinations from that end; yet 'twas visible, the main of their conduct tended to nothing but the care of the public. (Second Treatise of Government) |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Title | Author | Quote |
A Christmas Carol | Dickens, Charles | The Spirit paused a moment, as observing his condition, and giving him time to recover |
Les Miserables | Hugo, Victor | He had been observing him on his own account, for pleasure and by instinct, and at the same time lying in wait as if he had been paid for it. |
Gulliver's Travels | Swift, Jonathan | As I was on the road, observing the littleness of the houses, the trees, the cattle, and the people, I began to think myself in Lilliput |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| Subject | Topic | Quote |
Health | Doctors arrive at a diagnosis of PPS by observing the patient and asking about symptoms, and by excluding other disorders. (references) | |
Brain activity, whether one is looking at a picture, working out a problem in calculus, or simply observing the surroundings, requires energy. (references) | ||
Scientists studying C. elegans have begun to understand the basic elements of the cell death program by observing worms with mutations in genes that control apoptosis. (references) | ||
Business | Such decisions are often taken after observing local practice. (references) | |
Civil Liberties | Bangladesh | Those persons who are opposed to or neutral toward the strike are coerced into observing prohibitions against vehicular transport and normal operation of businesses. (references) |
Saudi Arabia | However, this regulation was rescinded late in the year, and only Iqamas (residency identification) now were required, although by year's end, there was no information regarding whether the authorities were observing the new policy in practice. (references) | |
Congo | In general government authorities did not harass or expel foreign journalists; however, on July 24, police detained and questioned two foreign journalists who were observing an antigovernment demonstration in Kinshasa; the journalists were released after an hour. (references) | |
Economic History | China | Most FIES determine their methods and calculations of salaries and benefits after observing local practice. (references) |
Canada | This practice will minimize the possibility that someone else, observing the use abroad, will file in Canada first and preclude registration by the true owner of the mark. (references) | |
Latvia | Latvia is a member of the International Labor Organization and is committed to observing the core worker rights defined by the ILO's Declaration on Fundamental Principles and Rights at Work. (references) | |
Human Rights | Korea | Visitors to North Korea report observing prisoners being marched in leg irons, metal collars, or shackles. (references) |
Peru | After observing his injuries, a prosecutor ordered prison officials to send him to a hospital for treatment. (references) | |
Mexico | In December 2000, President Fox announced that the only requirement for those interested in observing human rights conditions is observance of the country's law. (references) | |
Political Rights | Kazakhstan | In June 1999, Parliament banned the press and other outsiders from observing the vote of confidence in the Government. (references) |
Azerbaijan | The 1998 presidential election was an improvement over the 1995 parliamentary elections, especially in regard to reduced multiple voting and the presence of domestic observers; however, some domestic and international observers witnessed ballot stuffing and irregularities in vote counting, and some were barred from observing the vote counting. (references) | |
Trade | Slovak Rep | Any importer observing warehouse regulations can use public customs warehouses, which are usually located near the customs office and operated by the Government or by regional organizations. (references) |
Travel | Philippines | Observing office etiquette is also important. (references) |
Women | Afghanistan | Some observers reported observing fewer and fewer women on the streets in Taliban-controlled areas. (references) |
Lexicography | Devil's Dictionary | MIND, n. A mysterious form of matter secreted by the brain. Its chief activity consists in the endeavor to ascertain its own nature, the futility of the attempt being due to the fact that it has nothing but itself to know itself with. From the Latin mens, a fact unknown to that honest shoe-seller, who, observing that his learned competitor over the way had displayed the motto "Mens conscia recti," emblazoned his own front with the words "Men's, women's and children's conscia recti." |
Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits. | ||
| Speaker | Phrase(s) |
Martha Stewart | Well, I've always been observant and I always see things sort of before other people see them. So, that's just my nature. I'm always looking around, and watching, and observing. So I don't find myself doing it anymore than I used to. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| Speaker | Term | Phrase(s) |
George Washington | 1789-1797 | The inducements of interest for observing that conduct will best be referred to your own reflections and experience. |
James Monroe | 1817-1825 | All the inlets and assailable parts of our Union have been minutely examined, and positions taken with a view to the best effect, observing in every instance a just regard for economy. |
Calvin Coolidge | 1923-1929 | Those who want their rights respected under the Constitution and the law ought to set the example themselves of observing the Constitution and the law. |
Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
| "Observing" is generally used as a lexical verb (-ing form) -- approximately 95.48% of the time. "Observing" is used about 663 times out of a sample of 100 million words spoken or written in English. Its rank is based on over 700,000 words used in the English language. Some parts-of-speech are not covered due to the samples used by the British National Corpus. (note: percents less than one-hundredth of one percent have been omitted) |
| Parts of Speech | Percent | Usage per 100 Million Words | Rank in English |
| Lexical Verb (-ing form) | 95.48% | 633 | 10,269 |
| Adjective (general or positive) | 2.71% | 18 | 82,615 |
| Noun (proper) | 1.05% | 7 | 133,076 |
| Noun (singular) | 0.75% | 5 | 157,705 |
| Total | 100.00% | 663 | N/A |
Source: compiled by the editor from several corpora; see credits.
Expressions using "observing": Deep Earth Observing System ♦ Earth Observing System ♦ meteorological observing station ♦ observing network ♦ observing sector ♦ service observing ♦ synoptic observing station. Additional references. | |
| Hypenated Usage | |
Ending with "observing": meteor-observing, rule-observing. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. | |
| The following statistics estimate the number of searches per day across the major English-language search engines as identified by various trade publications. Hyperlinks lead to commercial use of the expression at Amazon.com. |
| Language | Translations for "observing"; alternative meanings/domain in parentheses. | |
Chinese | 观察 (Observation, Observe, Observed, Viewing). (various references) | |
Czech | pozorný (attentive, civil, considerate, courteous, heedful, intent, observant, regardful, thoughtful). (various references) | |
Danish | ozonovervågningsstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), observatørstat (observing State), verdensomspændend ozon Overvågningssystem (Global Ozone Observing System, GO3OS, which began in the 1950s, WMO provides guidance and assistance for these data-gathering activities), synoptisk station (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), radiosondestation (radio- sonde observing station, radiosonde station), Global Ozone Observing System (Global Ozone Observing System, GO3OS, which began in the 1950s, WMO provides guidance and assistance for these data-gathering activities), EOS (Earth Observing System), Earth Observing System (Earth Observing System). (various references) | |
Dutch | ozonmeetstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), waarnemend staat (observing State), synoptisch waarnemingsstation (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), synoptisch station (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), radiosondestation (radio- sonde observing station, radiosonde station), mondiaal systeem voor ozonobservatie (Global Ozone Observing System, GO3OS, which began in the 1950s, WMO provides guidance and assistance for these data-gathering activities), EOS (Eos), Earth Observing System (Earth Observing System), dienstobservatie (service observing), bedrijfsobservatie (service observing). (various references) | |
Finnish | otsonihavaintoasema (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), synoptinen sääasema (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), radioluotausasema (radio- sonde observing station, radiosonde station), palvelun laaduntarkkailu (service observing), EOS-satelliittijärjestelmä (Earth Observing System). (various references) | |
French | observation (observance, observation), observateur (observant, observer), observant. (various references) | |
German | beobachtend (observant, observating, watching), aufmerksam (alert, attentive, attentively, awake, considerate, keen, mindful, observant, observantly, perceptive, thoughtful, thoughtfully). (various references) | |
Greek | προσεκτικόσ (advertent, attentive, canny, careful, cautious, chary, chary of, close, heedful, mindful, painstaking, precautious, regardful, tactful, thoughtful, wakeful, wary, watchful), παρατηρητικόσ (discerning, observant, observational). (various references) | |
Hungarian | szemlélés, szemlélődés (contemplation, introspection), megtartó (observer), megtartás (hold, holding, observance, redeeming, retention), megjegyzéstevés, megfigyelő (lookout, monitoring, observant, observer, to be on the lookout), figyelmes (attentive, be observant, considerate, mindful, observant, open-eyed, thoughtful), figyelő (lookout, lookout man, monitor, observer), betartó (observer), betartás (observance), észrevételezés. (various references) | |
Italian | osservando, attento (alert, attentive, careful, heedful, mindful, observant). (various references) | |
Japanese Kanji | 遵奉 (following, obeying), 奉 (following, obeying). (various references) | |
Japanese Katakana | じゅ"ぽう (following, law observance, law-abiding, obeying, obeying the law, ten-day report). (various references) | |
Korean | 관측 (Observation). (various references) | |
Pig Latin | observingay.(various references) | |
Portuguese | observação do serviço (service observing), sistema mundial de observação do ozono (Global Ozone Observing System, GO3OS, which began in the 1950s, WMO provides guidance and assistance for these data-gathering activities), sistema de observação da Terra (Earth Observing System), Estado observador (observing State), estação sinóptica (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), estação de radiossondagem (radio- sonde observing station, radiosonde station), estação de observação sinóptica (synoptic observing station, synoptic station). (various references) | |
Russian | наблюдать наблюдающий. (various references) | |
Scottish | coimhead (appear, consider, deem, emerge, look, looking, perform, regard, view, watch, watching). (various references) | |
Spanish | alercta (attentive). (various references) | |
Swedish | ozonobservationsstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), ozonmonitoreringsstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), ozonmätstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), ozonövervakningsstation (ozone measuring station, ozone monitoring station, ozone observing station, ozone station), synoptisk väderstation (synoptic observing station, synoptic station), radiosondstation (radio- sonde observing station, radiosonde station), globalt ozonobservationssystem (Global Ozone Observing System, GO3OS, which began in the 1950s, WMO provides guidance and assistance for these data-gathering activities). (various references) | |
Turkish | inceleme (analysis, anatomy, checkover, checkup, compendium, dissection, examination, inquisition, investigation, perusal, research, sifting, study, survey, surveying), gözleme (monitor, observation, waffle, watch, watching), gözetleme (look out, lookout, observation, peek, peeping, spying on, surveillance, watching). (various references) | |
Ukrainian | уважний (attent, attentive, careful, considerate, heedful, mindful, nice, observant, observative, ponderate, thoughtful, watchful), спостережливий (inspective, observant, observational, observative, regardant, sharp-eyed, sharp-sighted), пристрілювальний. (various references) | |
Vietnamese | hay quan sát (observant), có khả năng nhận xét. (various references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various translation references. | ||
| Language | Period | Translations |
| Latin | 500 BCE-Modern | sabbatismus. (various references) |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references. | ||
Derivations | |
Words beginning with "observing": observingly. (additional references) | |
Words ending with "observing": reobserving. (additional references) | |
| Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references). | |
| # of Phoneme Matches | Pronunciation | Word(s) rhyming with "observing" (pronounced ubzer"ving) |
| 5 | -z er" v i ng | deserving, preserving, reserving, undeserving. |
| 4 | -er" v i ng | conserving, curving, serving, unnerving, unswerving. |
| 3 | -v i ng | approving, absolving, achieving, arriving, behaving, believing, braving, calving, caregiving, carving, caving, conceiving, conniving, craving, deceiving, delving, depriving, deriving, disapproving, disbelieving, dissolving, diving, driving, earthmoving, engraving, evolving, forgiving, giving, grieving, halving, having, heaving, improving, interleaving, interweaving, involving, jiving, leaving, lifesaving, living, loving, misbehaving, misgiving, moving, paving, perceiving, proving, raving, receiving, relieving, reliving, removing, resolving, retrieving, reviving, revolving, revving, saving, shaving, shelving, shoving, sieving, skydiving, solving, starving, staving, striving, surviving, thanksgiving, thieving, thriving, unbelieving, unforgiving, waiving, waving, weaving. |
Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits. | ||
Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams | |
| Words within the letters "b-e-g-i-n-o-r-s-v" | |
-1 letter: sobering. | |
-2 letters: bingers, biogens, borings, bovines, eringos, governs, ignores, overbig, overing, regions, renvois, rovings, serving, signore, sorbing, versing, version. | |
-3 letters: begins, beings, bevors, binger, binges, bingos, biogen, bogies, boners, bonier, boring, bovine, brines, brings, envois, eringo, genros, gibers, gibson, girons, givens, givers, gobies, goners, govern, grison, groins, groves, ignore, irones, nosier, ogives, orbing. | |
| Words containing the letters "b-e-g-i-n-o-r-s-v" | |
+2 letters: observingly, reobserving. | |
+3 letters: bedcoverings, overbrowsing. | |
+5 letters: overbreathings, verbigerations. | |
| Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits. SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. | |
| 1. Definition 2. Synonyms 3. Crosswords 4. Usage: Modern | 5. Usage: Commercial 6. Images: Slideshow 7. Images: Photo Album 8. Quotations: Familiar | 9. Quotations: Historic 10. Quotations: Fiction 11. Quotations: Non-fiction 12. Quotations: Spoken | 13. Quotations: Speeches 14. Usage Frequency 15. Expressions 16. Expressions: Internet | 17. Translations: Modern 18. Translations: Ancient 19. Derivations 20. Rhymes | 21. Anagrams 22. Bibliography |
Copyright © Philip M. Parker, INSEAD. Terms of Use.
