ear

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈir 

1

a

: the characteristic vertebrate organ of hearing and equilibrium consisting in the typical mammal of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by the tympanic membrane from a sound-transmitting middle ear that in turn is separated from a sensory inner ear by membranous fenestrae

b

: any of various organs (as of a fish) capable of detecting vibratory motion

2

: the external ear of humans and most mammals

3

a

: the sense or act of hearing

b

: acuity of hearing

c

: sensitivity to musical tone and pitch

also : the ability to retain and reproduce music that has been heard

d

: sensitivity to nuances of language especially as revealed in the command of verbal melody and rhythm or in the ability to render a spoken idiom accurately

4

: something resembling a mammalian ear in shape, position, or function: such as

a

: a projecting part (such as a lug or handle)

b

: either of a pair of tufts of lengthened feathers on the head of some birds

5

: attention, awareness

lend an ear

6

: a space in the upper corner of the front page of a periodical (such as a newspaper) usually containing advertising for the periodical itself or a weather forecast

7

: a person who listens : listener

looking for a friendly ear

Illustration of ear

• 1 pinna
• 2 lobe
• 3 auditory meatus
• 4 tympanic membrane
• 5 eustachian tube
• 6 cochlea
• 7 auditory nerve
• 8 stapes
• 9 semicircular canals
• 10 incus
• 11 malleus
• 12 bones of skull

ear

2 of 3

noun (2)

: the fruiting spike of a cereal (such as wheat or corn) including both the seeds and protective structures

ear

3 of 3

verb

eared; earing; ears

intransitive verb

: to form ears in growing

the rye should be earing up

Phrases

all ears

: eagerly listening

if anybody spoke of that grisly matter, I was all ears … and alert to hear what might be said

—Mark Twain

by ear

: without reference to or memorization of written music

plays by ear

in one ear and out the other

: through one's mind without making an impression

everything you say to him goes in one ear and out the other

on one's ear

: in or into a state of irritation, shock, or discord

set the racing world on its ear by breaking the record

up to one's ears

: deeply involved : heavily implicated

up to his ears in shady deals

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• advertence
• advertency
• attention
• awareness
• cognizance
• consciousness
• eye
• heed
• knowledge
• mindfulness
• note
• notice
• observance
• observation

Examples of ear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Its pastor at the time was Rudy Rasmus, whose love of jazz and exacting ear had long made the place a sort of Everest for local musicians. —Ryan Bradley MacLeod Andrews Emma Kehlbeck Quinton Kamara, New York Times, 10 Apr. 2024

The company’s Geek Squad Agents are considered to be the eyes and ears of its 24/7 customer service line. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 8 Apr. 2024

Some trimmers are made to trim the hair in both the nose and ears. —Lindsay Modglin, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024

Lilo and Stitch, Minnie Mouse and light-up Mickey Mouse ears, oh my. —Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Rina Tada, a 35-year-old systems engineer in Tokyo, is among those who suffer at this time of year: Her symptoms include a runny nose, sneezing, and itchiness in her eyes, throat, ears, and on her skin. —Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

The jury is still out on the tangible gains for Spotify in this case, but for many, it’s been music to their ears so far. —Max Firsau, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Another showed a suspect having his ear cut off and stuffed in his mouth. —Christian Edwards, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024

As the novel roves from Manhattan to Manchester, New Hampshire; from Los Angeles to Chicago, David, whose true ambition is to be a writer, uses his new role to sharpen his ear and eye. —Danielle Amir Jackson, The Atlantic, 26 Mar. 2024

Verb

The team treats patients for everything from chronic illnesses to ear infections. —D. Parvaz, NPR, 4 Mar. 2024

Warren is seen grinning ear to ear in a fuzzy black Kangol hat. —Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024

It also has been called atypical pneumonia, Thyagarajan says, and can cause fevers, a dry cough and sometimes ear infections. —Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023

Though the inn supplies ear plugs, I was never tempted to reach for them. —Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024

Paul Wall is smiling ear to ear, which is, frankly, nothing new. —Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 11 Dec. 2023

That said, ear warmers with down insulation or thermal lining can provide substantial warmth, sometimes keeping your head almost (or just) as warm as a winter hat. —Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2023

Only seven of the 13 studies assessed the clinical outcomes of sick patients who received phages to treat a variety of conditions from leg ulcers to ear infections. —Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023

Jeter, who retired after the 2014 season after a Hall of Fame career, and other legendary players were out on the field pre-game when Adames ran out onto the field beaming from ear to ear. —Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English ere, from Old English ēare; akin to Old High German ōra ear, Latin auris, Greek ous

Noun (2)

Middle English er, ere, going back to Old English ēar (Northumbrian æhher), going back to Germanic *ahaz (whence also Old Frisian ār "ear of grain," Middle Dutch aer, aere, Old Saxon ehir, Old High German ah, ahar, ehir, Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs), going back to Indo-European *h₂eḱ-es-, s-stem derivative from the base *h₂eḱ- "sharp, pointed" (in reference to a spike of grain perhaps originally referring to the awns, then generalized to the entire spike), whence also Latin acer-, acus "husks of grain or legumes, chaff," Tocharian B āke "end," Tocharian A āk — more at edge entry 1

Note: The diverse outcomes in Germanic assume generalization throughout the paradigm of the original stem variants: most forms from oblique stems *ahuz-, ahiz-, but Old High German ah, from nominative *ahaz and Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs, from a syncopated stem *ah-sa-.

Verb

Middle English eren, derivative of ere ear entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ear

• cauliflower ear
• a clip round the ear
• a thick ear
• bend one's ear
• a word in someone's ear
• ear rot
• ear clip
• cloud ear
• dog-ear
• by ear
• listen with only half an ear
• keen ear
• in one ear and out the other
• give him a thick ear
• inner ear
• have someone's ear
• have a word in your ear
• grin from ear to ear
• flea in one's ear
• make a pig's ear (out) of
• on one's ear
• out on one's ear
• play it by ear
• roasting ear
• play by ear
• set (something) on its ear
• slick-ear
• swimmer's ear
• talk someone's ear off
• tin ear
• smile from ear to ear
• turn a deaf ear
• wood ear
• ear candy
• mouse-ear
• ear pick
• bend someone's ear
• mouse-ear chickweed
• ear canal
• tree ear
• middle ear
• ear shell
• elephant's ear
• outer ear

Kids Definition

ear

1 of 2 noun

ˈi(ə)r 

1

a

: the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in the typical mammal consists of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by an eardrum from a sound-carrying middle ear that in turn is separated from an inner ear containing neurons that receive sound and send nerve impulses to the brain

b

: outer ear

2

a

: the sense or act of hearing

b

: an ability to understand and appreciate something heard

an ear for languages

3

: willing or sympathetic attention

lend an ear

4

: something resembling an ear in shape or position

eared

ˈi(ə)rd

adjective

earless

ˈi(ə)r-ləs

adjective

ear

2 of 2 noun

: the seed-bearing head of a cereal (as corn) including both the seeds and protective structures

ear verb

Etymology

Noun

Old English ēare "organ of hearing"

Noun

Old English ēar "seed part of a plant"

Medical Definition

ear

noun

ˈi(ə)r 

1

: the characteristic vertebrate organ of hearing and equilibrium consisting in the typical mammal of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by the tympanic membrane from a sound-transmitting middle ear that in turn is separated from a sensory inner ear by membranous fenestrae

2

a

: the external ear of humans and most mammals

b

: a human earlobe

had her ears pierced

3

a

: the sense or act of hearing

b

: acuity of hearing