play it by ear

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.] earless adj.

ear A. auricle B. semicircular canals C. cochlea D. cochlear nerve E. Eustachian tube F. eardrum G. ear canal

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ear ²  (îr)

n.

The seed-bearing spike of a cereal plant, such as corn.

intr.v. eared, ear·ing, ears

To form or grow ears.

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[Middle English ere, from Old English ar; see ak- in Indo-European roots.]

Thesaurus

Verb

1.

play it by ear - decide on one's actions as one goes along, depending on the situation; "She didn't know what to expect from her new job, so she played it by ear" act, move - perform an action, or work out or perform (an action); "think before you act"; "We must move quickly"; "The governor should act on the new energy bill"; "The nanny acted quickly by grabbing the toddler and covering him with a wet towel"