ear synonyms

ear

n.

  1. The organ of hearing

    outer ear, middle ear, inner ear, auricle, eardrum, labyrinth, semicircular canal, hammer, anvil, stirrup, cochlea, concha, pinna, acoustic organ, lug (Scottish), auditory apparatus, tympanum, flapper*, listener*, cauliflower ear*. *

  2. A projection

    lug, prong, projection; see bulge, handle 1.

  3. Hearing

    discrimination, heed, notice; see attention 1, hearing 3.

all ears*

attentive, hearing, paying attention; see listening, observant 2.

bend someone's ear*

jabber, chatter, be discursive; see babble, talk 1.

fall on deaf ears*

be ignored, be disregarded, fail to attract notice, be received with indifference; see fail 1.

give <strong>or </strong>lend an ear

give attention, heed, attend, take notice; see listen 1.

have <strong>or </strong>keep an ear to the ground*

be aware of, be attuned to, observe, keep one's eyes open*; see listen 1, mind 3.

in one ear and out the other*

ignored, forgotten, received with indifference; see forgotten, neglected.

play by ear

improvise, recall, play from memory; see play 3, remember 1, 2.

play it by ear*

improvise, extemporize, concoct, ad-lib*; see invent 1.

set on its ear*

stir up, agitate, arouse; see excite 1, 2.

turn a deaf ear to*

be heedless, ignore, refuse to listen to; see neglect 1.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.