auricle

noun

au·​ri·​cle ˈȯr-i-kəl How to pronounce auricle (audio)
1
a
: an atrium of a heart
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 Pretty much everybody has a pair of auricles or pinnae, which is plural for pinna. Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 Mar. 2024 The Outer Ear: The auricle (pinna) is thevisible portion of the outer ear. Brian Robinson, Discover Magazine, 20 Oct. 2022 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, 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, 4 Feb. 2018 Another catheter, similarly connected, went into the right auricle. Lily Rothman, Time, 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, 16 Jan. 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'auricle.' 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

Latin auricula, from diminutive of auris ear — more at ear

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of auricle was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near auricle

Cite this Entry

“Auricle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/auricle. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

auricle

noun
au·​ri·​cle ˈȯr-i-kəl How to pronounce auricle (audio)
1
2
: a small pouch in each atrium of the human heart

Medical Definition

auricle

noun
au·​ri·​cle ˈȯr-i-kəl How to pronounce auricle (audio)
1
a
: pinna
b
: an atrium of the heart
2
: an angular or ear-shaped anatomical lobe or process (as an auricular appendage of the heart)

More from Merriam-Webster on auricle

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