ear Hear it!

ear1 definition

ear (ir)

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

Etymology: ME ere < OE ēare akin to Goth ausō, Ger ohr < IE base *ous-, ear > L auris, Gr ous, OIr au

ear Idioms

be all ears

to be listening attentively or eagerly

bend someone's ear

☆
Slang to talk excessively to someone

fall on deaf ears

to be ignored or unheeded

give ear

or lend ear
to give attention, esp. favorable attention; listen; heed

have an ear to the ground

or keep an ear to the ground☆
to give careful attention to the trends of public opinion

have the ear of

to be in a favorable position to talk to and influence; be heeded by

in one ear and out the other

heard but without effect

play by ear

to play (a musical instrument or piece) without the use of notation, improvising an arrangement

play it by ear

Informal to act as the situation demands, without a preconceived plan; improvise

set on its ear

Informal to cause excitement, upheaval, etc. in

turn a deaf ear

to be unwilling to listen or heed
ear2 definition

ear (ir)

noun

the grain-bearing spike of a cereal plant, esp. of corn

Etymology: ME er < OE ēar, akin to Ger ähre, Goth ahs < IE *aces (< base *ak-, sharp) > L acus, chaff

intransitive verb

to sprout ears; form ears

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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