ear

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 middle ear (tympanum), and the inner ear (labyrinth), which also senses one's state of equilibrium

2. the visible, external part of the ear

3. the sense of hearing

4. the ability to recognize slight differences in sound, esp. in the pitch, rhythm, etc. of musical tones

5. anything shaped or placed like an ear, as the handle of a pitcher or a small box in the upper corner of a newspaper page

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be all ears

to be listening attentively or eagerly

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☆ bend someone's ear

Slang to talk excessively to someone

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fall on deaf ears

to be ignored or unheeded

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give ear or lend ear

to give attention, esp. favorable attention; listen; heed

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☆ have an ear to the ground or keep an ear to the ground

to give careful attention to the trends of public opinion

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have the ear of

to be in a favorable position to talk to and influence; be heeded by

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in one ear and out the other

heard but without effect

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play by ear

to play (a musical instrument or piece) without the use of notation, improvising an arrangement

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play it by ear

Informal to act as the situation demands, without a preconceived plan; improvise

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set on its ear

Informal to cause excitement, upheaval, etc. in

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turn a deaf ear

to be unwilling to listen or heed

ear² [ir]

n.

[ME er < OE ēar, akin to Ger ähre, Goth ahs < IE * aces (< base * ak-, sharp) > L acus, chaff]

the grain-bearing spike of a cereal plant, esp. of corn

vi.

to sprout ears; form ears