ear

1 of 3

noun (1)

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

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 saidMark 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

Examples of ear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The sounds that come from the various activity rooms where China Smith directs students to each day during the after-school program are literally music to the ears of Ahmad Nassar, vice president of strategy and development for FWS. Scott Talley, Detroit Free Press, 3 Mar. 2024 My favorite look has been these chunky gold hoops paired with a black turtleneck and my hair pulled back in a low ponytail, and also dangling over bare shoulders with hair tucked behind the ears and flowing long behind a black off-the-shoulder top. Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 1 Mar. 2024 Snatches of jazz float into my ears from Cape Weligama's Surf Bar. Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Mar. 2024 Cut to finish an inch or so below her ears, Evangelista wore her surprisingly versatile style with a slightly slick finish. Hannah Coates, Vogue, 1 Mar. 2024 Another example of Cultus Artem kinetic jewelry artistry involves the ‘Harmony Chimes’ earrings, which are topped with 18-karat gold and emerald crystal slices that frame the ears like precious spring leaves. Kyle Roderick, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 In the jail’s cramped visitor booths, Coleman’s family would hold Jocelyne up to the plexiglass to see her father and put the telephone to her small ear to hear his voice. Harriet Ryan, Los Angeles Times, 28 Feb. 2024 Mulligan then dropped to her knees to give Stone a long hug, and the two spoke quietly into each other's ears during the embrace as an announcer counted off the seconds to the end of the break. USA TODAY, 22 Feb. 2024 Instead, her wavy brown hair was neatly pinned behind her ears. Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 21 Feb. 2024
Verb
Warren is seen grinning ear to ear in a fuzzy black Kangol hat. Charna Flam, Peoplemag, 15 Feb. 2024 It also has been called atypical pneumonia, Thyagarajan says, and can cause fevers, a dry cough and sometimes ear infections. Tara Haelle, Scientific American, 19 Dec. 2023 Though the inn supplies ear plugs, I was never tempted to reach for them. Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 11 Jan. 2024 Paul Wall is smiling ear to ear, which is, frankly, nothing new. Kyle Eustice, SPIN, 11 Dec. 2023 That said, ear warmers with down insulation or thermal lining can provide substantial warmth, sometimes keeping your head almost (or just) as warm as a winter hat. Theresa Holland, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2023 Only seven of the 13 studies assessed the clinical outcomes of sick patients who received phages to treat a variety of conditions from leg ulcers to ear infections. Popular Science, 12 Oct. 2023 Jeter, who retired after the 2014 season after a Hall of Fame career, and other legendary players were out on the field pre-game when Adames ran out onto the field beaming from ear to ear. Christopher Kuhagen, Journal Sentinel, 10 Sep. 2023 Ohtani raised his arms in delight from the mound and Renfroe could only grin ear to ear after robbing Oakland's Jace Peterson with a defensive gem to start the bottom of the fifth. Janie McCauley, ajc, 31 Mar. 2023

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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of ear was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near ear

Cite this Entry

“Ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ear. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

ear

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in the typical mammal consists of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by an eardrum from a sound-carrying middle ear that in turn is separated from an inner ear containing neurons that receive sound and send nerve impulses to the brain
b
2
a
: the sense or act of hearing
b
: an ability to understand and appreciate something heard
an ear for languages
3
: willing or sympathetic attention
lend an ear
4
: something resembling an ear in shape or position
eared
ˈi(ə)rd
adjective
earless
ˈi(ə)r-ləs
adjective

ear

2 of 2 noun
: the seed-bearing head of a cereal (as corn) including both the seeds and protective structures
ear verb
Etymology

Noun

Old English ēare "organ of hearing"

Noun

Old English ēar "seed part of a plant"

Medical Definition

ear

noun
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

More from Merriam-Webster on ear

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!