auricle

noun

au·ri·cle | \ ˈȯr-i-kəl

Definition of auricle

1a : an atrium of a heart

b : pinna sense 1

c : an anterior ear-shaped pouch in each atrium of the human heart

2 : an angular or ear-shaped lobe, process, or appendage

Examples of auricle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The World Cup, bless its enormous heart — which this year is missing Italian, American, Chilean and Dutch ventricles and auricles — can bring out the worst (acting, officiating) and best (quotes, actions) in people. — Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Can soccer ever be in the Big Three?," 2 July 2018 The auricle collects those sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal, which then makes your eardrum vibrate, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. — Amber Brenza, SELF, "Why Do My Earbuds Always Fall Out?," 4 Feb. 2018 Another catheter, similarly connected, went into the right auricle. — Lily Rothman, Time, "50 Years Ago This Week: Inside the First Heart Transplant," 11 Dec. 2017 Humans do have weak vestigial muscles attached to the shell of the ear, called the auricle or pinna, as well as evidence of a vestigial nervous system, which could have functioned to orient the ears. — C. Claiborne Ray, New York Times, "Born to Be an Ear Wiggler?," 16 Jan. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'auricle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.