: 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
b
: any of various organs (as of a fish) capable of detecting vibratory motion
2
: the external ear of humans and most mammals
3
a
: the sense or act of hearing
b
: acuity of hearing
c
: sensitivity to musical tone and pitch
also: the ability to retain and reproduce music that has been heard
d
: sensitivity to nuances of language especially as revealed in the command of verbal melody and rhythm or in the ability to render a spoken idiom accurately
4
: something resembling a mammalian ear in shape, position, or function: such as
a
: a projecting part (such as a lug or handle)
b
: either of a pair of tufts of lengthened feathers on the head of some birds
: a space in the upper corner of the front page of a periodical (such as a newspaper) usually containing advertising for the periodical itself or a weather forecast
In battles over females, males bite each other on the ears, necks, and legs, then whirl their adversaries in a circle.—Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2023 The trades of Amed Rosario, Aaron Civale and Josh Bell right before the deadline knocked it on its ear, but did not break it.—Paul Hoynes, cleveland, 16 Sep. 2023 This may include ringing in the ears (tinnitus) and dizziness.—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 15 Sep. 2023 Past research has shown, for example, that even people in a deep coma can unconsciously learn the names of fruits or cities if those words are whispered in their ear.—Rachel Nuwer, Scientific American, 14 Sep. 2023 If there is a person depicted in the art, look at the hands, ears, eyes and general proportions to see if anything is unusual.—Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 14 Sep. 2023 A feeling of fullness in the ear There's no cure for MD.—Isadora Baum, Health, 11 Sep. 2023 The bread treats, filled with a delicate chocolate custard, have pointy ears and cookie bits for the eyes and stomach.—Peggy Hernandez, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Sep. 2023 Head lice are commonly found on the hairline, on the neck, and behind the ears, and they can be seen using a magnifying glass and lice comb.—Parents Editors, Parents, 3 Sep. 2023
Verb
Jeter, who retired after the 2014 season after a Hall of Fame career, and other legendary players were out on the field pre-game when Adames ran out onto the field beaming from ear to ear.—Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2023 Ohtani raised his arms in delight from the mound and Renfroe could only grin ear to ear after robbing Oakland's Jace Peterson with a defensive gem to start the bottom of the fifth.—Janie McCauley, ajc, 31 Mar. 2023 Alexandra Furman was beaming ear to ear as the women danced around her.—Claire Law, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Feb. 2023 One soldier was rushed in with his throat sliced open from ear to ear.—Michael Schwirtz Lynsey Addario, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2023 But audience appeal is ultimately in the eye (and ear) of the beholder.—Charles McNulty, Los Angeles Times, 11 June 2023 The window of his cell was as wide as his face—ear to ear—giving him a view of the hills.—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 10 Apr. 2023 Playing his first game with the Angels, Renfroe could only grin ear to ear after robbing Peterson with a defensive gem to start the bottom of the fifth inning in Los Angeles' 2-1 loss to the Oakland Athletics on Thursday night.—Janie McCauley, ajc, 31 Mar. 2023 The doll had a massive curly bun with a braid extending from ear to ear.—Gabi Thorne, Allure, 17 Mar. 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ear.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun (1)
Middle English ere, from Old English ēare; akin to Old High German ōra ear, Latin auris, Greek ous
Noun (2)
Middle English er, ere, going back to Old English ēar (Northumbrian æhher), going back to Germanic *ahaz (whence also Old Frisian ār "ear of grain," Middle Dutch aer, aere, Old Saxon ehir, Old High German ah, ahar, ehir, Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs), going back to Indo-European *h2eḱ-es-, s-stem derivative from the base *h2eḱ- "sharp, pointed" (in reference to a spike of grain perhaps originally referring to the awns, then generalized to the entire spike), whence also Latin acer-, acus "husks of grain or legumes, chaff," Tocharian B āke "end," Tocharian A āk — more at edge entry 1
Note:
The diverse outcomes in Germanic assume generalization throughout the paradigm of the original stem variants: most forms from oblique stems *ahuz-, ahiz-, but Old High German ah, from nominative *ahaz and Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs, from a syncopated stem *ah-sa-.
: the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in the typical mammal consists of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by an eardrum from a sound-carrying middle ear that in turn is separated from an inner ear containing neurons that receive sound and send nerve impulses to the brain
: 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
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