Ear /(ēr)/

Ear

n.
  1. The organ of hearing; the external ear.
  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.
  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. Same as Acroterium. (Arch.)
  5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention.
    Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit.
    Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.

Phrases & Compounds
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
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
otoliths. See Otolith.
Ear snail
any snail of the genus Auricula and allied genera.
Ear stones
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
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
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.
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.

Ear

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Eared; p. pr. & vb. n. Earing

  1. To take in with the ears; to hear. [Sportive]

Ear

n.
  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

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

Ear

v. t.
  1. To plow or till; to cultivate.