ear¹ /ēr/

1. The organ of hearing, or just the external part
2. The sense or power of hearing
3. The faculty of distinguishing sounds esp of a different pitch
4. Attention
5. Anything projecting or shaped like an ear, such as the auricle of a leaf, the lug of a vessel or a projecting part for support, attachment, etc

eared adjective

Having ears or external ears

earˈful noun (informal)

1. Rough or scolding words, a reprimand
2. As much talk or gossip as one's ears can stand

earˈing noun (nautical)

One of a number of small ropes for fastening the upper corner of a sail to the yard

earˈless adjective

Without ears, or external ears

earˈache noun

An ache or pain in the ear

earˈbash intransitive verb (Aust inf)

To talk incessantly

transitive verb

To nag or scold

earˈbasher noun

earˈbashing noun

A lengthy scolding

earˈbob noun

An earring

earˈ-bone noun

earˈbud noun

(usu in pl) an audio receiver that fits into the outer ear, used for listening to a portable radio, digital audio player, etc

earˈ-bussing (Shakespeare; another reading earˈ-kissing) adjective

Whispered

earˈ-cap noun (archaic)

An earflap

ear'-catching adjective

(of a tune, etc) readily taking hold in the mind

ear defenders plural noun

Plugs or muffs for insertion into, or fitting over, the ears to reduce noise reception

earˈdrop noun

1. A pendant earring
2. (in pl) a medicine taken in the form of drops put into the outer ear

earˈdrum noun

1. The tympanic membrane, a thin partition between the outer ear and the organs of the middle ear, which vibrates as sound waves strike it
2. The cavity of the middle ear, tympanum

earˈflap noun

1. One of two coverings for the ears, attached to a cap, to protect them from cold or injury
2. A small flap of skin forming the outer ear of some animals

earˈ-hole noun

1. The opening in the ear
2. A person's ear (informal)

earˈlap noun

1. The tip of the ear
2. An earflap

earˈlobe noun

The soft lower part of the outer ear

earˈlock noun

A curl near the ear worn by Elizabethan dandies

earˈmark noun

1. A distinctive mark
2. An owner's mark on an animal's ear

transitive verb

1. To set aside or intend for a particular purpose
2. To put an earmark on

earˈmuffs plural noun

A pair of ear coverings, joined by a band across the head, worn to protect the ears from cold or noise

earˈphone noun

A headphone

earˈpick noun

An instrument for clearing the ear

earˈpiece noun

1. The part of a telephone, etc that is placed next to the ear
2. A square box for advertisement, etc printed at the top of a newspaper page
3. The part of a pair of glasses that fits over and round the ear

earˈ-piercing adjective

Shrill, screaming

noun

The piercing of the lobe of the ear in order to insert earrings

earˈplug noun

A plug of soft material inserted into the outer ear to keep out sound, water, etc

earring /ērˈing/ noun

A piece of jewellery hung from or fixed on or in the ear

earˈ-shell noun

Any shell of the family Haliotidae

earˈshot noun

The distance within which a sound can be heard

earˈ-splitting adjective

Ear-piercing

earˈ-trumpet noun

A trumpet-shaped tube formerly used as a hearing aid

earˈwax noun

A waxy substance secreted by the glands of the ear

earˈwig noun

1. (OE ēarwicga, from ēare ear, and wicga insect or beetle) any dermapterous insect of the family Forficulidae, once supposed to creep into the ear
2. A flatterer

transitive verb

1. To eavesdrop (slang)
2. To gain the ear of (archaic)
3. To bias (archaic)
4. To pester with continual demands (archaic)

earˈwigging noun (informal)

A scolding

earˈwiggy adjective

earˈ-witness noun

A witness that can testify from his or her own hearing

earˈworm noun (informal)

An irresistibly catchy piece of music

about one's ears

Said of something falling around one (eg a building or missiles) (also figurative)

a thick ear (informal)

A blow on the ear, by way of chastisement

a word in someone's ear

A private word with someone

be all ears

To give every attention

fall on deaf ears

(of a remark, request, etc) to be ignored

give ear

To attend (to)

go in (at) one ear and out (at) the other

To make no permanent impression

have itching ears

To want to hear news (Bible, 2 Timothy 4.3)

have or keep one's ear to the ground

To keep oneself well-informed about what is going on around one

have someone's ear

To be sure of someone's favourable attention

lend an ear

To listen (to)

make a pig's ear of see pig¹

make someone's ears burn

To discuss someone in his or her absence

out on one's ear (informal)

Dismissed swiftly and without politeness

pin back one's ears

To listen attentively

pin back someone's ears

To reprimand, rebuke

play by ear

To play on a musical instrument without the help of written music

play it by ear

To deal with a situation as it develops without advance planning

set by the ears

To set violently against each other

• tangible
• tangibleness
• tangiblenesses
• tangibles
• tangibly
• tangie
• tangier
• tangies
• tangiest
• tanging
• tangis
• tangle
• tangled
• sym.
• symar
• symbion
• symbions
• symbiont
• symbionts
• symbioses
• symbiosis
• symbiotic
• symbiotically
• symbol
• symbole