outer ear

noun

: the outer visible portion of the ear that collects and directs sound waves toward the tympanic membrane by way of a canal which extends inward through the temporal bone

Examples of outer ear in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web More than a quarter-century after scientists first grew a humanlike ear on the back of a mouse, surgeons in San Antonio have successfully used a 3D printer to reconstruct an outer ear made of living cells for a young woman with a congenital ear deformity—no creepy-looking mice required. IEEE Spectrum, 7 June 2022 The most severe injury she’s seen from a bug was an outer ear infection. Jonathan Edwards, Washington Post, 1 Nov. 2023 The more microorganisms and moisture in your ear, the greater the risk for an infection, research suggests, including otitis media (an infection in the middle ear behind the eardrum) or otitis externa (an infection in the outer ear canal). Julia Ries, SELF, 27 July 2023 The outer ear pads have been redesigned and now combine memory foam with a top layer of seamless leather. Chris Welch, The Verge, 19 July 2023 This bacteria is known for causing itch, red hot tub rash, and swimmer's ear, an outer ear infection that can be itchy and painful and is more common among kids. Brittany Anas, House Beautiful, 16 June 2023 These soft, putty-like silicone earplugs are easy to use — just warm them up by kneading them with your fingers and molding them around the edges of your outer ear canal to create a seal. Katherine Alex Beaven, Travel + Leisure, 31 May 2023 Just avoid going near your outer ear canal. Korin Miller, SELF, 24 June 2022 Clean your outer ear using a cloth or paper towel. Madeleine Burry, Health, 3 Mar. 2023

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

First Known Use

1701, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of outer ear was in 1701

Dictionary Entries Near outer ear

Cite this Entry

“Outer ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/outer%20ear. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

outer ear

noun
: the outer visible part of the ear that collects and directs sound waves toward the eardrum by way of a canal through the temporal bone

Medical Definition

outer ear

noun
out·​er ear ˈau̇t-ər- How to pronounce outer ear (audio)
: the outer visible portion of the ear that collects and directs sound waves toward the tympanic membrane by way of a canal which extends inward through the temporal bone
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