Ear

Ear, ēr, n. the organ of hearing, or the external part merely: the sense or power of hearing: the faculty of distinguishing sounds: attention: anything like an ear.—ns. Ear′ache, an ache or pain in the ear; Ear′bob, an earring; Ear′-cap, a covering to protect the ear from cold; Ear′drop, an ornamental pendant hanging from the ear; Ear′drum, the drum or middle cavity of the ear, tympanum (q.v.).—adj. Eared, having ears.—n. Ear′-hole, the aperture of the ear.—adj. Ear′-kiss′ing, whispered.—n. Ear′lap, the tip of the ear: an ear-cap.—adj. Ear′less, wanting ears.—ns. Ear′lock, a curl near the ear worn by Elizabethan dandies; Ear′mark, a mark set on the ears of sheep whereby their owners may distinguish them: a distinctive mark.—v.t. to put an earmark on.—n. Ear′-pick, an instrument for clearing the ear.—adj. Ear′-pierc′ing, shrill, screaming.—ns. Ear′ring, an ornamental ring worn in the ear; Ear′-shell, any shell of the family Haliotidæ; Ear′shot, the distance at which a sound can be heard; Ear′-trum′pet, a tube to aid in hearing; Ear′wax, a waxy substance secreted by the glands of the ear; Ear′wig, an insect which was supposed to creep into the brain through the ear: a flatterer.—v.t. to gain the ear of: to bias: to torment by private importunities (A.S. éarwicga, éare, ear, wicga, earwig).—n. Ear′witness, a witness that can testify from his own hearing.—About one's ears, said of a house falling, &c.; Be all ears, to give every attention; Give ear, to attend; Go in at one ear and out at the other, used of words which make no permanent impression; Have a person's ear, to be secure of his favourable attention; Have itching ears, to be desirous of hearing novelties (2 Tim. iv. 3); Lend an ear, to listen; Over head and ears, overwhelmed: deeply engrossed or involved; Set by the ears, to set at strife; Speak in the ear, to whisper; Tickle the ear, to flatter; Turn a deaf ear, to refuse to listen; Walls have ears, a proverbial phrase implying that there may be listeners behind the wall. [A.S. éare; cf. L. auris, Ger. ohr.]