ear 1 (îr)n.1. Anatomy a. The vertebrate organ of hearing, responsible for maintaining equilibrium as well as sensing sound and divided in mammals into the external ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. b. The part of this organ that is externally visible. 2. An invertebrate organ analogous to the mammalian ear. 3. The sense of hearing: a sound that grates on the ear. 4. Sensitivity or receptiveness to sound, especially: a. Sharpness or refinement of hearing: a singer with a good ear for harmony. b. The ability to play a passage of music solely from hearing it: plays the piano by ear. c. Responsiveness to the sounds or forms of spoken language: a writer with a good ear for dialogue; has an ear for foreign languages. 5. Sympathetic or favorable attention: "[The President] wavers between the two positions, depending on who last had his ear" Joseph C. Harsch. 6. Something resembling the external ear in position or shape, especially: a. A flexible tuft of feathers located above the eyes of certain birds, such as owls, that functions in visual communication but not in hearing. Also called ear tuft. b. A projecting handle, as on a vase or pitcher. 7. A small box in the upper corner of the page in a newspaper or periodical that contains a printed notice, such as promotional material or weather information. 8. ears Informal Headphones. Idioms: all ears Acutely attentive: Tell your story-we're all ears! coming out of (one's) ears In more than adequate amounts; overabundant. give/lend an ear To pay close attention; listen attentively. have/keep an ear to the ground To be on the watch for new trends or information. in one ear and out the other Without any influence or effect; unheeded: His mind was made up, so my arguments went in one ear and out the other. on its/someone's ear In a state of amazement, excitement, or uproar: a controversial movie that set the film industry on its ear. play it by ear To act according to the circumstances; improvise: "He plays his negotiations by ear, going into them with no clear or fixed plan" George F. Kennan. up to (one's) ears Deeply involved or occupied fully: I'm up to my ears in work.
[Middle English ere, from Old English  are; see ous- in Indo-European roots.]
ear less adj. | ear A. auricle B. semicircular canals C. cochlea D. cochlear nerve E. Eustachian tube F. eardrum G. ear canal |
ear 1 Noun
1. the part of the body with which a person or animal hears
2. the external, visible part of the ear
3. the ability to hear musical and other sounds and interpret them accurately: a good ear for languages
4. willingness to listen: they are always willing to lend an ear
5. be all ears to be prepared to listen attentively to something
6. fall on deaf ears to be ignored: his words fell on deaf ears
7. in one ear and out the other heard but quickly forgotten or ignored
8. out on one's ear Informal dismissed suddenly and unpleasantly
9. play by ear to play without written music
10. play it by ear Informal to make up one's plan of action as one goes along
11. turn a deaf ear to to be deliberately unresponsive to: many countries have turned a deaf ear to their cries for help
12. up to one's ears in Informal deeply involved in [Old English ēare]
ear 2 Noun
the part of a cereal plant, such as wheat or barley, that contains the seeds [Old English ēar]
ear 1 (îr)1. The vertebrate organ of hearing, which in mammals is usually composed of three parts: the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The organs of balance are also located in the ear. 2. An invertebrate organ analogous to the vertebrate ear. | ear1 A. auricle, B. bone, C. semicircular canals, D. cochlea, E. acoustic nerve, F. eustachian tube, G. eardrum, H. ear canal |
ear 2 (îr) The seed-bearing spike of a cereal plant, such as corn or wheat. |
EarMedicine. a pain in the ear; earache.
an instrument for examining the ear.
the art of using the auriscope.
an earache.
Medicine. the therapeutics of ear diseases. — otiatric, adj.
a vertigo resulting from ear disease. Also oticodinosis.
Medicine. any variety of inflammation in the ear. — otitic, adj.
1. the science of the ear.
2. a scientific description of the ear.
1. the branch of medicine that studies the ear and its diseases.
2. the treatment of ear disorders. — otologist, n. — otologic, otological, adj.
an abnormal condition or disease of the ear.
plastic surgery of the ear.
the discharge or flowing of pus from the ear.
any flowing or discharge from the ear.
a visual inspection of the ear drum and the auditory canal. — otoscopic, adj.
abnormal thickness of the ears.
a ringing or whistling sound in the ears, not caused by any outside stimulus.
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  ear - the sense organ for hearing and equilibriumorgan of hearing - the part of the ear that is responsible for sensations of sound fenestra - a small opening covered with membrane (especially one in the bone between the middle and inner ear) head, caput - the upper part of the human body or the front part of the body in animals; contains the face and brains; "he stuck his head out the window" |
| 2. | ear - good hearing; "he had a keen ear"; "a good ear for pitch" |
| 3. | ear - the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external eartragus - a small cartilaginous flap in front of the external opening of the ear |
| 4. | ear - attention to what is said; "he tried to get her ear"attending, attention - the process whereby a person concentrates on some features of the environment to the (relative) exclusion of others |
| 5. | ear - fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corncorn, Indian corn, maize, Zea mays - tall annual cereal grass bearing kernels on large ears: widely cultivated in America in many varieties; the principal cereal in Mexico and Central and South America since pre-Columbian times fruit - the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant |
ear noun 2.
attention,
hearing,
regard,
notice,
consideration,
observation,
awareness,
heed lend an ear listen, pay attention,
heed, take notice, pay heed,
hearken (
archaic) give ear >>
adjectives aural
Translations
ear [ɪəʳ] n → oreja (= sense of hearing); oído; [of corn] → espiga;
ear [ɪəʳ] n → oreille f [of corn]; épi m;
ear [ɪəʳ] n → Ohr nt;
ear [ɪəʳ] n → orecchio; [of corn] → pannocchia;
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
ear tip necrosis
