ear

I

[[t]ɪər[/t]]

n.

1) anat. the organ of hearing and equilibrium in vertebrates, in mammals consisting of an external ear and ear canal ending at the tympanic membrane, a middle ear with three ossicles for amplifying vibrations, and a liquid-filled inner ear with sensory nerve endings for hearing and balance

2) anat. the external ear alone

3) the sense of hearing

4) keen perception of the differences of sound, esp. musical sounds

5) attention:

to gain a person's ear[/ex]

6) any part that resembles or suggests an ear in position or form, as the handle of a teacup

7) jou a small box in the upper corner of the front page of a newspaper, containing a slogan, weather forecast, etc

8) sts ears, Slang. earphones

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- be all ears by ear fall on deaf ears go in one ear and out the other have or keep one's ear to the ground lend an or give ear play it by ear set on one's ear turn a deaf ear to

Etymology: bef. 900; ME ere, OE ēare; c. OOHG ōra, ON eyra, Go auso, L auris, Lith ausìs, Gk oûs II

ear

[[t]ɪər[/t]] n.

1) bot the spike of a cereal plant, containing the seed grains

2) to form or put forth ears

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Etymology: bef. 900; ME ere, OE ēar, æhher; c. OS ahar, OHG ahir, ehir, ON ax, Go ahs ear, L acus husk