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ear



[ ˈir]



ear   
noun
[ˈir]
ear   
verb
eared; earing; ears

Definition of ear (Entry 3 of 3)

intransitive verb

: to form ears in growing
//the rye should be earing up



First Known Use of ear

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above



History and Etymology for ear

Noun (1)

Middle English ere, from Old English ēare; akin to Old High German ōra ear, Latin auris, Greek ous

Noun (2)

Middle English er, ere, going back to Old English ēar (Northumbrian æhher), going back to Germanic *ahaz (whence also Old Frisian ār "ear of grain," Middle Dutch aer, aere, Old Saxon ehir, Old High German ah, ahar, ehir, Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs), going back to Indo-European *h2eḱ-es-, s-stem derivative from the base *h2eḱ- "sharp, pointed" (in reference to a spike of grain perhaps originally referring to the awns, then generalized to the entire spike), whence also Latin acer-, acus "husks of grain or legumes, chaff," Tocharian B āke "end," Tocharian A āk — more at edge entry 1

Note: The diverse outcomes in Germanic assume generalization throughout the paradigm of the original stem variants: most forms from oblique stems *ahuz-, ahiz-, but Old High German ah, from nominative *ahaz and Old Norse ax, Gothic ahs, from a syncopated stem *ah-sa-.

Verb

Middle English eren, derivative of ere ear entry 2



Dictionary Entries near ear


Phrases Related to ear


More Synonyms and Antonyms ofear

Synonyms & Antonyms of ear

a state of being aware
  • I'm trying to get the boss's ear in order to ask for a raise in my pay

Synonyms for ear

Words Related to ear

Near Antonyms for ear



More Definitions forear

ear

noun
\ ˈir \

Kids Definition of ear

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the organ of hearing and balance of vertebrates that in most mammals is made up of an outer part that collects sound, a middle part that carries sound, and an inner part that receives sound and sends nerve signals to the brain
2 : the outer part of the ear
//She pulled on his ear.
3 : the sense of hearing
//a good ear for music
4 : willing or sympathetic attention
//The coach had every player's ear.

Other Words from ear

eared \ ˈird \ adjective
//a long-eared dog

ear

noun

Kids Definition of ear (Entry 2 of 2)

: the seed-bearing head of a cereal grass
//an ear of corn

ear

noun
\ ˈi(ə)r \

Medical Definition of ear

1 : the characteristic vertebrate organ of hearing and equilibrium consisting in the typical mammal of a sound-collecting outer ear separated by the tympanic membrane from a sound-transmitting middle ear that in turn is separated from a sensory inner ear by membranous fenestrae
2a : the external ear of humans and most mammals
b : a human earlobe
//had her ears pierced
3a : the sense or act of hearing
b : acuity of hearing