the outermost cartilaginous part of the ear (pinna) in mammals, esp humans
3.
the sense of hearing
4.
sensitivity to musical sounds, poetic diction, etc
she has an ear for music
5.
attention, esp favourable attention; consideration; heed (esp in the phrases give ear to, lend an ear)
6.
an object resembling the external ear in shape or position, such as a handle on a jug
7. Also called (esp Brit): earpiece
a display box at the head of a newspaper page, esp the front page, for advertisements, etc
8. all ears
9. by ear
10. chew someone's ear
11. fall on deaf ears
12. have hard ears
13. a flea in one's ear
14. have the ear of
15. in one ear and out the other
16. keep one's ear to the ground
17. make a pig's ear of
18. one's ears are burning
19. out on one's ear
20. play by ear
21. prick up one's ears
22. set by the ears
23. a thick ear
24. turn a deaf ear
25. up to one's ears
26. wet behind the ears
Derived forms
earlike (ˈearˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
Old English ēare; related to Old Norse eyra, Old High German ōra, Gothic ausō, Greek ous, Latin auris
ear in British English2
(ɪə)
noun
1.
the part of a cereal plant, such as wheat or barley, that contains the seeds, grains, or kernels
verb
2. (intransitive)
(of cereal plants) to develop such parts
Word origin
Old English ēar; related to Old High German ahar, Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs ear, Latin acus chaff, Greek akros pointed
ear in American English1
(ɪr)
noun
1.
the part of the body specialized for the perception of sound; organ of hearing: the human ear consists of the external ear, the middle ear (tympanum), and the inner ear (labyrinth), which also senses one's state of equilibrium
2.
the visible, external part of the ear
3.
the sense of hearing
4.
the ability to recognize slight differences in sound, esp. in the pitch, rhythm, etc. of musical tones
5.
anything shaped or placed like an ear, as the handle of a pitcher or a small box in the upper corner of a newspaper page
Idioms:
be all ears
bend someone's ear
fall on deaf ears
give ear
have an ear to the ground
have the ear of
in one ear and out the other
play by ear
play it by ear
set on its ear
turn a deaf ear
Word origin
ME ere < OE ēare akin to Goth ausō, Ger ohr < IE base *ous-, ear > L auris, Gr ous, OIr au
ear in American English2
(ɪr)
noun
1.
the grain-bearing spike of a cereal plant, esp. of corn
verb intransitive
2.
to sprout ears; form ears
Word origin
ME er < OE ēar, akin to Ger ähre, Goth ahs < IE *aces (< base *ak-, sharp) > L acus, chaff
More idioms containing
ear
send someone away with a flea in their ear
turn a deaf ear to something
play it by ear
out on your ear
listen with half an ear
lend an ear to someone
keep your ear to the ground
have someone's ear
have an ear for something
grin from ear to ear
go in one ear and out the other
bend someone's ear
make a pig's ear of something
you can't make a silk purse out of a sow's ear
have a tin ear for something
a word in someone's ear
Examples of 'ear' in a sentence
ear
We are the eyes and ears on the ground.
The Sun (2016)
And they have these matching great big ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He was left deaf in one ear.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It goes in one ear and out the other.
The Sun (2016)
The sickness is triggered when the brain gets conflicting signals from what your eye sees and your inner ear senses.
The Sun (2016)
The doctor wanted to refer me to an ear, nose and throat specialist.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
You hear with new ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
One listens with refreshed ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Music to your ears?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She looked as if she were going to box her ears.
Frances Hodgson Burnett A Little Princess (1905)
This keeps your head and ears toasty and comes with a hole for your ponytail.
The Sun (2010)
She has just had the top of one of her ears pierced.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Why not try to balance the use of your eyes and ears?
Christianity Today (2000)
Maybe nature has given me a good ear for languages.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Which is maybe why she chose the biggest elf ears available.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
We in the audience lend them our ears and remember our manners.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Their reaction was music to the ears.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This infection of the balance mechanism in the inner ear usually subsides within six weeks.
The Sun (2014)
But they are not exciting and the blood is still thundering in the ears on all sides.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We need to take our fingers out of our ears and listen.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Many have at least one ear on the past.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Prepare to cover your eyes and ears during what may be the most gruesome episode yet.
The Sun (2009)
Over the last few years he has displayed an impressive ear for up-and-coming indie bands.
The Sun (2006)
You might notice this in your ears, head or chest.
The Sun (2009)
He has a fine ear for detail, and the music sounded lucid and transparent and the orchestra played beautifully.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
In other languages
ear
British English: ear /ɪə/ NOUN
Your ears are the two parts of your body with which you hear sounds.
He whispered something in her ear.
American English: ear
Arabic: أُذُن
Brazilian Portuguese: orelha
Chinese: 耳朵
Croatian: uho
Czech: ucho
Danish: øre
Dutch: oor
European Spanish: oído Anatomía
Finnish: korva
French: oreille
German: Ohr
Greek: αφτί
Italian: orecchio
Japanese: 耳
Korean: 귀
Norwegian: øre
Polish: ucho
European Portuguese: orelha
Romanian: ureche
Russian: ухо
Latin American Spanish: oído
Swedish: öra
Thai: หู
Turkish: kulak
Ukrainian: вухо
Vietnamese: tai
All related terms of 'ear'
by ear
without reading from written music
dog-ear
to fold down the corner of (a page )
ear tag
an identification tag fastened to the ear of an animal
sea-ear
an edible marine gastropod mollusc , Haliotis tuberculata, that has an ear-shaped shell perforated with holes and occurs near the Channel Islands
tin ear
an inability to perceive differences in musical sounds
cat's-ear
any of various European plants of the genus Hypochoeris, esp H . radicata, having dandelion-like heads of yellow flowers: family Asteraceae ( composites )
cloud ear
→ tree ear
ear canal
Your ear canal is the tube that opens in your outer ear and leads inside your ear.
ear candy
pleasant , melodic pop music
ear drops
Ear drops are medicine that you put directly in your ears one drop at a time.
ear shell
→ abalone
ear-stone
a calcium carbonate crystal in the ear of vertebrates
give ear
to give attention , esp. favorable attention; listen ; heed
glue ear
accumulation of fluid in the middle ear in children , caused by infection and sometimes resulting in deafness
inner ear
the part of the ear in the temporal bone consisting of the semicircular canals , vestibule , and cochlea
jew's ear
→ another name for jelly fungus
mouse-ear
short for mouse-ear chickweed
outer ear
→ external ear
pig's ear
something that has been badly or clumsily done; a botched job (esp in the phrase make a pig's ear of ( something ))
thick ear
a blow on the ear delivered as punishment , in anger , etc
tree ear
a basidiomycetous mushroom (genus Auricularia ), used esp. in Chinese cooking, that grows on tree trunks and is rubbery in consistency and crinkled in texture
wood ear
→ tree ear
bear's-ear
→ auricula
boxer's ear
permanent swelling and distortion of the external ear as the result of ruptures of the blood vessels: usually caused by blows received in boxing
ear stopper
a small piece of soft material, such as wax , placed in the ear to keep out noise or water
ear trumpet
a trumpet-shaped instrument that amplifies sounds and is held to the ear : an old form of hearing aid
middle ear
the sound-conducting part of the ear, containing the malleus , incus , and stapes
ear-grabbing
(of music) immediately capturing and holding the attention of listeners
ear infection
an infection that affects the ear
ear piercing
the making of a hole in the lobe of an ear, using a sterilized needle , so that an earring may be worn fastened in the hole
ear-splitting
An ear-splitting noise is very loud.
external ear
the part of the ear consisting of the auricle and the auditory canal
internal ear
the part of the ear that consists of the cochlea , vestibule , and semicircular canals
a thick ear
a blow on the ear delivered as punishment , in anger , etc
cauliflower ear
permanent swelling and distortion of the external ear as the result of ruptures of the blood vessels: usually caused by blows received in boxing
elephant's-ear
any aroid plant of the genus Colocasia, of tropical Asia and Polynesia , having very large heart-shaped leaves: grown for ornament and for their edible tubers
half an ear
If you listen to something or someone with only half an ear , you do not give your full attention to what is being said .
lend an ear
to listen
play by ear
to act according to the demands of a situation rather than to a plan ; improvise
eardrum
Your eardrums are the thin pieces of tightly stretched skin inside each ear , which vibrate when sound waves reach them.
earlobe
Your earlobes are the soft parts at the bottom of your ears.
earplug
Earplugs are small pieces of a soft material which you put into your ears to keep out noise, water, or cold air.
bend someone's ear
to keep talking to someone about something, usually in an annoying way
chew someone's ear
to reprimand severely
have someone's ear
to have the attention of a person in power, who listens carefully to your opinions and often follows your advice on important issues
have the ear of
to be in a position to influence
incline one's ear
to listen favourably (to)
out on one's ear
dismissed unceremoniously
out on your ear
If someone says that you will be out on your ear , they mean that you will be forced to leave a job , an organization or a place suddenly .
play it by ear
to deal with things as they happen , rather than following a plan or previous arrangement
Chinese translation of 'ear'
ear
(ɪəʳ)
n(c)
(Anat) 耳朵 (ěrduo) (只, zhī)
[of wheat]穗 (suì)
to have an ear for language/music有语(語)言/音乐(樂)欣赏(賞)能力 (yǒu yǔyán/yīnyuè xīnshǎng nénglì)
to be up to one's ears in debt/work深陷入债(債)务(務)/工作 (shēnxiàn rù zhàiwù/gōngzuò)
we'll play it by ear (fig) 我们(們)会(會)见(見)机(機)行事 (wǒmen huì jiànjī xíngshì)
1 (noun)
He has a fine ear for music.
Synonyms
sensitivity
taste
She has very good taste in clothes.
discrimination
He praised our taste and discrimination.
appreciation
They have a strong appreciation of the importance of economic incentives.
musical perception
2 (noun)
Definition
willingness to listen
The lobbyists have the ear of influential western leaders.
Synonyms
attention
Let me draw your attention to some important issues.
hearing
His mind still seemed clear and his hearing was excellent.
regard
notice
Nothing that went on in the hospital escaped her notice.
consideration
He said there should be careful consideration of the company's future role.
observation
careful observation of the movement of the planets
awareness
heed
He pays too much heed these days to my nephew.
idioms
See bend someone's ear
See be out on your ear
See lend an ear
See play it by ear
See turn a deaf ear to something
related words
technical namesauriclepinna
related adjectivesauralauricularotic
subject word lists
See Parts of the ear
figurative note
The ear is the organ of hearing and balance in humans. In the phrase walls have ears, walls are given the human characteristic of a sense of hearing. This expression was used as a slogan of national security in the Second World War to discourage indiscreet talk along the general population. The ability to discriminate sounds has led to ear meaning sensitivity, especially an ear for music and an ear for language. Hearing and listening are activities which can be selective, therefore ear also means paying attention: closely in all ears; as a conscious decision in lend an ear; and not at all in turn a deaf ear. Although it might be expected that ears of corn are related to the human ear in their resemblance, these are actually two different words which look the same.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of appreciation
Definition
awareness and understanding of a problem or difficulty
They have a strong appreciation of the importance of economic incentives.
Synonyms
awareness,
understanding,
regard,
knowledge,
recognition,
perception,
sympathy,
consciousness,
sensitivity,
realization,
comprehension,
familiarity,
mindfulness,
cognizance
in the sense of consideration
Definition
careful thought
He said there should be careful consideration of the company's future role.