Main Entry: ear

Pronunciation: \ˈi(ə)r\

Function: noun

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

[ear illustration]

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