audition

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French audicion, from Latin audītiō, from audiō (“I hear”).

noun

1. (countable) A performance, by an aspiring performer, to demonstrate suitability or talent.
   I've been to five auditions this week.
2. (uncountable) The sense of hearing.
   His audition was poor.
3. An act of hearing; being heard.
   Abraham talked on, rather for the pleasure of utterance than for audition, so that his sister's abstraction was of no account. 1891, Thomas Hardy, Tess of the d'Urbervilles, volume 1, London: James R. Osgood, McIlvaine and Co., page 52
4. (rare) Something heard.

verb

1. (transitive) To evaluate one or more performers in through an audition.
   We auditioned several actors for the part.
   I was only once faced with the task of auditioning a nimiety of sopranos. 2008, Denis Norden, chapter 8, in Chips from a Life
2. (intransitive) To take part in such a performance.
   Several actors auditioned for the part.