plural pinnae
ˈpi-ˌnē 
-ˌnī
or pinnas
1
a
: a projecting body part (such as a feather, wing, or fin)
b
: the largely cartilaginous projecting portion of the external ear see ear illustration
2
: a leaflet or primary division of a pinnate leaf or frond
Examples of pinna in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The test involved punching holes in the ear pinna of rabbits and mice and tracking the wound-repairing process.
—
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
Pretty much everybody has a pair of auricles or pinnae, which is plural for pinna.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
In humans the pinna remains stationary at all times (or at least in most humans; for the purposes of their research, Smith and Marshall excluded Soupy Sales, Jerry Lewis, and Shemp).
—Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Take the human pinna, for example.
—Science Buddies, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2015
Equally, a negative automatic thought can produce an immediate increase in hair growth on the outer surface at the tip of the nose or on the pinna...
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2011
The human pinna also helps determine sound direction.
—Science Buddies, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2015
Auricular muscles control the pinna or visible part of the outer ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
In other mammals, they are used to move the pinna to better zero in on incoming sounds or as a means of expression.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 26 June 2025
Pretty much everybody has a pair of auricles or pinnae, which is plural for pinna.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024
In humans the pinna remains stationary at all times (or at least in most humans; for the purposes of their research, Smith and Marshall excluded Soupy Sales, Jerry Lewis, and Shemp).
—Jeffrey Kluger, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Take the human pinna, for example.
—Science Buddies, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2015
Equally, a negative automatic thought can produce an immediate increase in hair growth on the outer surface at the tip of the nose or on the pinna...
—Ncbi Rofl, Discover Magazine, 16 May 2011
The human pinna also helps determine sound direction.
—Science Buddies, Scientific American, 19 Nov. 2015
Auricular muscles control the pinna or visible part of the outer ear.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
In other mammals, they are used to move the pinna to better zero in on incoming sounds or as a means of expression.
—Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Oct. 2022
Cite this Entry
“Pinna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinna. Accessed 11 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share