ear Meaning, Definition & Usage

Ear noun

Etymology

AS. eáre; akin to OFries. áre, ár, OS. ra, D. oor, OHG. ra, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. cf. L. audire to hear, Gr. , Skr. av to favor , protect. Cf. Auricle, Orillon.

Definitions

1. The organ of hearing; the external ear. ✍ In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum; and the internal ear, or labyrinth. The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane, and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus, incus, and stapes, which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth, a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid (the endolymph), and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth, in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid (the perilymph). The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule, into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea (spirally coiled in mammals) open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus, connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti. By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain.
2. The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones; as, a nice ear for music; -- in the singular only.

   Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear. Tennyson.

3. That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; any prominence or projection on an object, -- usually one for support or attachment; a lug; a handle; as, the ears of a tub, a skillet, or dish. The ears of a boat are outside kneepieces near the bow. See Illust. of Bell.
4. (Arch.) (a) Same as Acroterium  (b) Same as Crossette.
5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.

   Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon.

   Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Shak.

Ear transitive verb

Wordforms

imperfect & past participle Eared ; present participle & verbal noun Earing

Definitions

1. To take in with the ears; to hear. Sportive "I eared her language." Two Noble Kinsmen.

Ear noun

Etymology

AS. ear; akin to D. aar, OHG. ahir, G. ähre, Icel., Sw., & Dan. ax, Goth. ahs. . Cf. Awn, Edge.

Definitions

1. The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels.

   First the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Mark iv. 28.

Ear intransitive verb

Definitions

1. To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain; as, this corn ears well.

Ear transitive verb

Etymology

OE. erien, AS. erian; akin to OFries. era, OHG. erran, MHG. eren, ern, Prov. G. aren, ären, Icel. erja, Goth. arjan, Lith. arti, OSlav. orati, L. arare, Gr. . Cf. Arable.

Definitions

1. To plow or till; to cultivate. "To ear the land." Shak.