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¹ear

noun \ˈir\

Definition of EAR

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

: the external ear of humans and most mammals

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

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

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

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

: attention, awareness <lend an ear>

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

: a person who listens : listener <looking for a friendly ear>

— 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>

Illustration of EAR

Origin of EAR

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

First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

Rhymes with EAR

beer, bier, blear, cere, cheer, clear, dear, deer, Deere, drear, fear, fere, fleer, gear, hear, here, jeer, leer, mere, mir, near, peer, pier, Pierre, queer, rear, schmear, sear, seer, sere, shear, sheer, skirr, smear, sneer, spear, speer, sphere, steer, tear, tier, Trier, Tyr, veer, weir, year

²ear

noun

Definition of EAR

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

Origin of EAR

Middle English er, from Old English ēar; akin to Old High German ahir ear, Old English ecg edge — more at edge

First Known Use: before 12th century

³ear

verb

Definition of EAR

intransitive verb

: to form ears in growing <the rye should be earing up>

First Known Use of EAR

14th century

EAR[1] Defined for Kids

¹ear

noun \ˈir\

Definition of EAR for Kids

: the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in most mammals is made up of an outer part that collects sound, a middle part that carries sound, and an inner part that receives sound and sends nerve signals to the brain

: the outer part of the ear <She pulled on his ear.>

: the sense of hearing <a good ear for music>

: willing or sympathetic attention <The coach had every player's ear.>

— eared \ˈird\ adjective <a long-eared dog>

²ear

noun

Definition of EAR for Kids

: the seed-bearing head of a cereal grass <an ear of corn>

Medical Dictionary

ear

noun \ˈi(ə)r\

Medical Definition of EAR

: 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

a : the external ear of humans and most mammals b : a human earlobe <had her ears pierced>

a : the sense or act of hearing b : acuity of hearing