pinna

noun

pin·​na ˈpi-nə How to pronounce pinna (audio)
plural pinnae ˈpi-ˌnē How to pronounce pinna (audio)
-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
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.
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

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, feather, wing — more at pen

First Known Use

1682, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinna was in 1682

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinna.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinna. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

pinna

noun
pin·​na ˈpin-ə How to pronounce pinna (audio)
plural pinnae ˈpin-ē How to pronounce pinna (audio)
-ˌī
or pinnas
1
: a feather, wing, or fin or a part like one
2
: the part of the ear that is outside the head and is made of cartilage

Medical Definition

pinna

noun
pin·​na ˈpin-ə How to pronounce pinna (audio)
plural pinnae ˈpin-ˌē How to pronounce pinna (audio) -ˌī How to pronounce pinna (audio) or pinnas
: the largely cartilaginous projecting portion of the external ear
pinnal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on pinna

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