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ear - What does it mean?

Definition of 'ear'

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), .

Noun

(en-noun)
  • (countable) The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea.
  • (countable) The external part of the organ of hearing, the auricle.
  • *
  • |title=(The Celebrity)|chapter=4 |passage=Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear , and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.}}
  • (countable|slang) A police informant.
  • * 1976 , Stirling Silliphant, Dean Riesner, Gail Morgan Hickman, .
  • No I'm not kidding, and if you don't give it to me I'll let it out that you’re an ear.
  • The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones.
  • *
  • songsnot all ungrateful to thine ear
  • The privilege of being kindly heard; favour; attention.
  • * (Francis Bacon)
  • Dionysiuswould give no ear to his suit.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears .
  • That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; a prominence or projection on an object, usually for support or attachment; a lug; a handle.
  • (architecture) An acroterium.
  • (architecture) A crossette.
  • Alternative forms
    * ere
    Derived terms
    * bend somebody's ear * between the ears * by ear * cauliflower ear * earache * earbud * ear canal * eardrum * earful * earhole * earlobe (rel-mid3) * earmark * earpiece * earphone * earprint * earring * ears are burning * earshot * earsore * ear to the ground * ear trumpet * earwax (rel-mid3) * external ear * have one's ears lowered * inner ear * little pitchers have big ears * make a silk purse of a sow's ear * middle ear * mind's ear * out on one's ear * outer ear * surfer’s ear * swimmer’s ear (rel-bottom) * (ear)

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (humorous) To take in with the ears; to hear.
  • * Two Noble Kinsmen
  • I eared her language.

    See also

    * (wikipedia) * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) . More at (m).

    Noun

    (en-noun)
  • (countable) The fruiting body of a grain plant.
  • He is in the fields, harvesting ears of corn.
    Synonyms
    * head * spike

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain does.
  • This corn ears well.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en-verb)
  • (archaic) To plough.
  • * 1595 , William Shakespeare, Richard II :
  • That power I have, discharge; and let them go
    To ear the land that hath some hope to grow,
    For I have none.

    Similar to 'ear'

    er, ewer, eyer, err, eir, euer, eyr