Ear

Ear
Ear Ear, n. [AS. e['a]re; akin to OFries. ['a]re, ['a]r, OS. ?ra, D. oor, OHG. ?ra, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. ["o]ra, Dan. ["o]re, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. ?; cf. L. audire to hear, Gr. ?, Skr. av to favor, protect. Cf. {Auricle}, {Orillon}.] 1. The organ of hearing; the external ear. [1913 Webster]

Note: 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. [1913 Webster]

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. [1913 Webster]

Songs . . . not all ungrateful to thine ear. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

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}. [1913 Webster]

4. (Arch.) (a) Same as {Acroterium}. (b) Same as {Crossette}. [1913 Webster]

5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention. [1913 Webster]

Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. --Bacon. [1913 Webster]

Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

{About the ears}, in close proximity to; near at hand.

{By the ears}, in close contest; as, to set by the ears; to fall together by the ears; to be by the ears.

{Button ear} (in dogs), an ear which falls forward and completely hides the inside.

{Ear finger}, the little finger.

{Ear of Dionysius}, a kind of ear trumpet with a flexible tube; -- named from the Sicilian tyrant, who constructed a device to overhear the prisoners in his dungeons.

{Ear sand} (Anat.), otoliths. See {Otolith}.

{Ear snail} (Zo["o]l.), any snail of the genus {Auricula} and allied genera.

{Ear stones} (Anat.), otoliths. See {Otolith}.

{Ear trumpet}, an instrument to aid in hearing. It consists of a tube broad at the outer end, and narrowing to a slender extremity which enters the ear, thus collecting and intensifying sounds so as to assist the hearing of a partially deaf person.

{Ear vesicle} (Zo["o]l.), a simple auditory organ, occurring in many worms, mollusks, etc. It consists of a small sac containing a fluid and one or more solid concretions or otocysts.

{Rose ear} (in dogs), an ear which folds backward and shows part of the inside.

{To give ear to}, to listen to; to heed, as advice or one advising. ``Give ear unto my song.'' --Goldsmith.

{To have one's ear}, to be listened to with favor.

{Up to the ears}, deeply submerged; almost overwhelmed; as, to be in trouble up to one's ears. [Colloq.] [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • ear — W2S2 [ıə US ır] n ↑ear, ↑nose, ↑tooth, ↑eye ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(part of your body)¦ 2¦(hearing)¦ 3¦(grain)¦ 4 smile/grin etc from ear to ear 5 6 a sympathetic ear 7 close/shut your ears to something …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • ear — ear1 [ir] n. [ME ere < OE ēare akin to Goth ausō, Ger ohr < IE base * ous , ear > L auris, Gr ous, OIr au] 1. the part of the body specialized for the perception of sound; organ of hearing: the human ear consists of the external ear, the …   English World dictionary

  • ear — [ ır ] noun *** 1. ) count one of the two parts at the sides of your head that you hear with: He whispered something in her ear. 2. ) singular the ability to hear and judge sounds: She has a very good ear for music. 3. ) count the part at the top …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • Ear — Saltar a navegación, búsqueda Nombre Anglosajón Ear tumba Forma Futhorc …   Wikipedia Español

  • ear — Ⅰ. ear [1] ► NOUN 1) the organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates. 2) the fleshy external part of this organ. 3) (in other animals) an organ sensitive to sound. 4) an ability to recognize and appreciate music or language. 5)… …   English terms dictionary

  • ear — for hearing and ear of corn seem in some way to belong together, but in fact they are two quite distinct words etymologically. Ear for hearing [OE] is an ancient term that goes right back to the Indo European roots of the language. Its ancestor… …   The Hutchinson dictionary of word origins

  • ear — for hearing and ear of corn seem in some way to belong together, but in fact they are two quite distinct words etymologically. Ear for hearing [OE] is an ancient term that goes right back to the Indo European roots of the language. Its ancestor… …   Word origins

  • Ear — Ear, n. [AS. ear; akin to D. aar, OHG. ahir, G. [ a]hre, Icel., Sw., & Dan. ax, Goth. ahs. ???. Cf. {Awn}, {Edge}.] The spike or head of any cereal (as, wheat, rye, barley, Indian corn, etc.), containing the kernels. [1913 Webster] First the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • EAR — steht für: East African Railways, eine Bahngesellschaft der drei ostafrikanischen Staaten Kenia, Uganda und Tansania Einnahmen Ausgaben Rechnung, im Steuerrecht, siehe Einnahmenüberschussrechnung Elektro Altgeräte Register, siehe Elektro und… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ear — Ear, v. t. [OE. erien, AS. erian; akin to OFries. era, OHG. erran, MHG. eren, ern, Prov. G. aren, [ a]ren, Icel. erja, Goth. arjan, Lith. arti, OSlav. orati, L. arare, Gr. ?. Cf. {Arable}.] To plow or till; to cultivate. To ear the land. Shak.… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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