Word Meanings - EAR - Book Publishers vocabulary database

, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. audire to hear, Gr. av to favor , protect. Cf. 1. The organ of hearing; the external ear. Note: In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing

Additional info about word: EAR

, G. ohr, Icel. eyra, Sw. öra, Dan. öre, Goth. auso, L. auris, Lith. ausis, Russ. ukho, Gr. audire to hear, Gr. av to favor , protect. Cf. 1. The organ of hearing; the external ear. Note: In man and the higher vertebrates, the organ of hearing is very complicated, and is divisible into three parts: the external ear, which includes the pinna or auricle and meatus or external opening; the middle ear, drum, or tympanum; and the internal ear, or labyrinth. The middle ear is a cavity connected by the Eustachian tube with the pharynx, separated from the opening of the external ear by the tympanic membrane, and containing a chain of three small bones, or ossicles, named malleus, incus, and stapes, which connect this membrane with the internal ear. The essential part of the internal ear where the fibers of the auditory nerve terminate, is the membranous labyrinth, a complicated system of sacs and tubes filled with a fluid , and lodged in a cavity, called the bony labyrinth, in the periotic bone. The membranous labyrinth does not completely fill the bony labyrinth, but is partially suspended in it in a fluid . The bony labyrinth consists of a central cavity, the vestibule, into which three semicircular canals and the canal of the cochlea open. The vestibular portion of the membranous labyrinth consists of two sacs, the utriculus and sacculus, connected by a narrow tube, into the former of which three membranous semicircular canals open, while the latter is connected with a membranous tube in the cochlea containing the organ of Corti. By the help of the external ear the sonorous vibrations of the air are concentrated upon the tympanic membrane and set it vibrating, the chain of bones in the middle ear transmits these vibrations to the internal ear, where they cause certain delicate structures in the organ of Corti, and other parts of the membranous labyrinth, to stimulate the fibers of the auditory nerve to transmit sonorous impulses to the brain. 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. Tennyson. 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. Same as Acroterium . Same as Crossette. 5. Privilege of being kindly heard; favor; attention. Dionysius . . . would give no ear to his suit. Bacon. Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears. Shak. 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. "Give ear unto my song." Goldsmith. -- 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.

Possible synonyms: (Same meaning words of EAR)

• Listen
• Hear
• attend
• hearken
• incline
• give ear
• heed

Possible antonyms: (opposite words of EAR)

• Trend
• diverge
• ascend
• deter
• rise
• indispose
• disincline

Related words: (words related to EAR)

• ASCENDANCY; ASCENDANCE
  See ASCENDENCY
• LISTEN
  hlyst hearing, OS. hlust, Icel. hlusta to listen, hlust ear, AS. hlosnian to wait in suspense, OHG. hlosen to listen, Gr. loud. sq. 1. To give close attention with the purpose of hearing; to give ear; to hearken; to attend. When we have occasion
• LISTENER
  One who listens; a hearkener.
• ASCENDENCY
  Governing or controlling influence; domination; power. An undisputed ascendency. Macaulay. Custom has an ascendency over the understanding. Watts. Syn. -- Control; authority; influence; sway; dominion; prevalence; domination.
• ATTENDMENT
  An attendant circumstance. The uncomfortable attendments of hell. Sir T. Browne.
• ASCENDIBLE
  Capable of being ascended; climbable.
• DETERRATION
  The uncovering of anything buried or covered with earth; a taking out of the earth or ground. Woodward.
• ASCENDING
  Rising; moving upward; as, an ascending kite. -- As*cend"ing*ly, adv. Ascending latitude , the increasing latitude of a planet. Ferguson. -- Ascending line , the line of relationship traced backward or through one's ancestors. One's father and
• DETERMINER
  One who, or that which, determines or decides.
• DETERMINIST
  One who believes in determinism. Also adj.; as, determinist theories.
• INCLINED
  Making an angle with some line or plane; -- said of a line or plane. (more info) 1. Having a leaning or tendency towards, or away from, a thing; disposed or moved by wish, desire, or judgment; as, a man inclined to virtue. "Each pensively
• DETERMINISM
  The doctrine that the will is not free, but is inevitably and invincibly determined by motives. Its superior suitability to produce courage, as contrasted with scientific physical determinism, is obvious. F. P. Cobbe.
• ATTEND
  L. attendre to stretch, , to apply the mind to; ad + 1. To direct the attention to; to fix the mind upon; to give heed to; to regard. The diligent pilot in a dangerous tempest doth not attend the unskillful words of the passenger. Sir P. Sidney.
• HEARKENER
  One who hearkens; a listener.
• INDISPOSE
  1. To render unfit or unsuited; to disqualify. 2. To disorder slightly as regards health; to make somewhat. Shak. It made him rather indisposed than sick. Walton. 3. To disincline; to render averse or unfavorable; as, a love of pleasure indisposes
• DETERRENCE
  That which deters; a deterrent; a hindrance.
• DETERMINATIVE
  Having power to determine; limiting; shaping; directing; conclusive. Incidents . . . determinative of their course. I. Taylor. Determinative tables , tables presenting the specific character of minerals, plants, etc., to assist in determining the
• DETERMINATELY
  1. In a determinate manner; definitely; ascertainably. The principles of religion are already either determinately true or false, before you think of them. Tillotson. 2. Resolutely; unchangeably. Being determinately . . . bent to marry. Sir P.
• DETERGENT
  Cleansing; purging. -- n.
• DETERSIVELY
  In a way to cleanse.
• INDETERMINABLE
  Not determinable; impossible to be determined; not to be definitely known, ascertained, defined, or limited. -- In`de*ter"mi*na*bly, adv.
• SELF-DETERMINATION
  Determination by one's self; or, determination of one's acts or states without the necessitating force of motives; -- applied to the voluntary or activity.
• UNDETERMINABLE
  Not determinable; indeterminable. Locke.
• PREDETERMINATION
  The act of previous determination; a purpose formed beforehand; as, the predetermination of God's will. Hammond.
• PREINDISPOSE
  To render indisposed beforehand. Milman.
• INDETERMINATE
  Not determinate; not certain or fixed; indefinite; not precise; as, an indeterminate number of years. Paley. Indeterminate analysis , that branch of analysis which has for its object the solution of indeterminate problems. -- Indeterminate
• UNDETERMINATION
  Indetermination. Sir M. Hale.
• INDETERMINED
  Undetermined.
• GLISTEN
  To sparkle or shine; especially, to shine with a mild, subdued, and fitful luster; to emit a soft, scintillating light; to gleam; as, the glistening stars. Syn. -- See Flash. (more info) glisnian, akin to E. glitter. See Glitter, v. i., and cf.