ENGLISH
REFERENCE

seeing

n. uncountable
C2 Proficiency US //ˈsiɪŋ// UK //sˈiːɪŋ// see·ing Slang

n. the quality of the air when you look through a telescope. If the air is steady, you can see clear details on planets; if it is shaky, the image looks blurry.

n. the atmospheric stability or turbulence affecting the clarity and steadiness of an astronomical image viewed through a telescope.


SIMPLE

The seeing is excellent tonight so we can see Jupiter clearly.

CONTEXTUAL

Astronomers often travel to high-altitude deserts where the seeing is more consistent due to the thin, stable atmosphere.

COMPLEX

Even with high-quality optics, poor seeing can limit a telescope's resolving power, as turbulent air layers cause the light from distant stars to shimmer and blur.

Synonyms
Etymology 1

From see + -ing.

Etymology 2

Probably an elision of "seeing that" or "seeing as".

Usage

Commonly used with adjectives like 'good', 'poor', or 'steady' to describe observing conditions.

Idioms2 entries

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