ear

1 of 3

noun (1)

ˈir

: 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

: any of various organs (as of a fish) capable of detecting vibratory motion

: the external ear of humans and most mammals

: the sense or act of hearing

: acuity of hearing

: sensitivity to musical tone and pitch

also : the ability to retain and reproduce music that has been heard

: 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

: something resembling a mammalian ear in shape, position, or function: such as

: a projecting part (such as a lug or handle)

: either of a pair of tufts of lengthened feathers on the head of some birds

: attention, awareness

lend an ear

: 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

: a person who listens : listener

looking for a friendly ear

ear

2 of 3

noun (2)

: the fruiting spike of a cereal (such as wheat or corn) including both the seeds and protective structures

ear

3 of 3

verb

eared; earing; ears

intransitive verb

: to form ears in growing

the rye should be earing up

Phrases

all ears

: eagerly listening

if anybody spoke of that grisly matter, I was all ears … and alert to hear what might be said

Mark Twain

by ear

: without reference to or memorization of written music

plays by ear

in one ear and out the other

: through one's mind without making an impression

everything you say to him goes in one ear and out the other

on one's ear

: in or into a state of irritation, shock, or discord

set the racing world on its ear by breaking the record

up to one's ears

: deeply involved : heavily implicated

up to his ears in shady deals

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-.

Verb

Middle English eren, derivative of ere ear entry 2

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ear 1 of 2

noun

ˈir

: the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in most mammals is made up of an outer part that collects sound, a middle part that carries sound, and an inner part that receives sound and sends nerve signals to the brain

: the outer part of the ear

She pulled on his ear.

: the sense of hearing

a good ear for music

: willing or sympathetic attention

The coach had every player's ear.

ear

2 of 2

noun

: the seed-bearing head of a cereal grass

an ear of corn

Medical Definition

ear

noun

ˈi(ə)r

: the external ear of humans and most mammals

: a human earlobe

had her ears pierced

: the sense or act of hearing

: acuity of hearing

单词	all ears
释义	ear 1 of 3 noun (1) ˈir 1 a : 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 5 : attention, awareness lend an ear 6 : 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 7 : a person who listens : listener looking for a friendly ear Illustration of ear 1 pinna 2 lobe 3 auditory meatus 4 tympanic membrane 5 eustachian tube 6 cochlea 7 auditory nerve 8 stapes 9 semicircular canals 10 incus 11 malleus 12 bones of skull ear 2 of 3 noun (2) : the fruiting spike of a cereal (such as wheat or corn) including both the seeds and protective structures ear 3 of 3 verb eared; earing; ears intransitive verb : to form ears in growing the rye should be earing up Phrases all ears : eagerly listening if anybody spoke of that grisly matter, I was all ears … and alert to hear what might be said Mark Twain by ear : without reference to or memorization of written music plays by ear in one ear and out the other : through one's mind without making an impression everything you say to him goes in one ear and out the other on one's ear : in or into a state of irritation, shock, or discord set the racing world on its ear by breaking the record up to one's ears : deeply involved : heavily implicated up to his ears in shady deals Synonyms Noun (1) advertence advertency attention awareness cognizance consciousness eye heed knowledge mindfulness note notice observance observation See all Synonyms & Antonyms 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-. Verb Middle English eren,* derivative of ere ear entry 2 First Known Use Noun (1) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a Noun (2) before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above Verb 14th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing ear a clip round the ear a thick ear a word in someone's ear bend one's ear dog-ear cloud ear bend someone's ear elephant's ear ear rot ear clip ear candy ear shell ear pick grin from ear to ear flea in one's ear give him a thick ear have a word in your ear listen with only half an ear inner ear in one ear and out the other mouse-ear chickweed middle ear mouse-ear make a pig's ear (out) of out on one's ear outer ear on one's ear play by ear play it by ear roasting ear slick-ear set (something) on its ear talk someone's ear off tin ear smile from ear to ear turn a deaf ear wood ear tree ear cauliflower ear ear canal keen ear swimmer's ear have someone's ear by ear See More a clip round the ear a thick ear a word in someone's ear bend one's ear dog-ear cloud ear bend someone's ear elephant's ear ear rot ear clip ear candy ear shell ear pick grin from ear to ear flea in one's ear give him a thick ear have a word in your ear listen with only half an ear inner ear in one ear and out the other mouse-ear chickweed middle ear mouse-ear make a pig's ear (out) of out on one's ear outer ear on one's ear play by ear play it by ear roasting ear slick-ear set (something) on its ear talk someone's ear off tin ear smile from ear to ear turn a deaf ear wood ear tree ear cauliflower ear ear canal keen ear swimmer's ear have someone's ear by ear See More Kids Definition ear 1 of 2 noun ˈir 1 : the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in most mammals is made up of an outer part that collects sound, a middle part that carries sound, and an inner part that receives sound and sends nerve signals to the brain 2 : the outer part of the ear She pulled on his ear. 3 : the sense of hearing a good ear for music 4 : willing or sympathetic attention The coach had every player's ear. ear 2 of 2 noun : the seed-bearing head of a cereal grass an ear of corn Medical Definition ear noun ˈi(ə)r 1 : 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 2 a : the external ear of humans and most mammals b : a human earlobe had her ears pierced 3 a : the sense or act of hearing b : acuity of hearing all ears phrase as in focused having the mind fixed on something I was all ears as she described her vacation in the islands. Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance focused interested intent deep immersed rapt attentive absorbed observant engrossed enthralled involved intrigued alive focussed conscious engaged watchful alert hypnotized mesmerized open-eyed wide-awake Antonyms & Near Antonyms absent distracted remote inattentive inobservant unfocused abstracted lost unabsorbed oblivious absentminded preoccupied hazy faraway foggy dreamy daydreaming unfocussed disinterested uninterested apathetic See More
随便看	oceanias oceanic oceanic area oceanic bonito oceanic island oceanic white-tipped shark oceanic white-tipped sharks oceanic whitetip oceanic whitetip shark oceanic whitetip sharks oceanic whitetips oceanicae oceanicas oceanics Oceanid oceanides Oceanids oceanids oceaniteses oceanitesses oceanity oceanodromous oceanographer oceanographers oceanographic

ear

noun (1)

Illustration of ear

noun (2)

verb

Synonyms

Word History

Phrases Containing ear

Kids Definition

noun

noun

Medical Definition

noun

phrase