An Encylopedia Britannica Company

ear

1 ear /ˈiɚ/ noun
plural ears
1 ear
/ˈiɚ/
noun
plural ears
Britannica Dictionary definition of EAR
[count] : the part of the body that you hear with
see picture at face
[singular]
: an ability to understand and appreciate something heard
used to describe the way something sounds to you
[count] : attention that is shown or given by listening to what someone says
◊ To lend an ear or, in literary language, to lend someone your ears is to listen to what someone has to say.

all ears

informal
used to say that someone is listening very closely

a word in someone's ear

see 1word

bend someone's ear

see 1bend

box someone's ears

see 3box

can't believe your ears

see believe

cock an/your ear

see 2cock

ears are burning

◊ If your ears are burning or you feel your ears burning, you have the feeling that other people are talking about you.

ears pop

see 1pop

fall on deaf ears

: to fail to be heard : to be ignored

grin/smile from ear to ear

: to smile widely : to have a big smile on your face

have someone's ear

◊ If you have someone's ear you can talk and give advice to that person because you are trusted.

in one ear and out the other

: through someone's mind without being remembered or noticed

out on your ear

informal
: forced out : thrown out

play by ear

◊ To play a song or a piece of music by ear is to play it after hearing it without looking at written music.
◊ To play it by ear is to do something without special preparation.

set (something) on its ear

informal
: to cause something to be in a state of great excitement or shock

talk someone's ear off

see 1talk

turn a deaf ear

: to refuse to listen to what someone says

up to your ears

: deeply involved in something

wet behind the ears

see 1wet
compare 2ear

— earless

/ˈiɚləs/ adjective
2 ear /ˈiɚ/ noun
plural ears
2 ear
/ˈiɚ/
noun
plural ears
Britannica Dictionary definition of EAR
[count]
: the part of a corn plant on which the seeds grow
compare 1ear