Ears
ɪərz
Definitions
3 meaningsThe organs of hearing; the part of the body that can hear sounds.
ɪərz
The organs of hearing and balance in humans and animals.
My ears are sensitive to loud noises.
💡 Simply: Your ears are like little speakers on the sides of your head. They help you hear everything around you, from your best friend's voice to a car horn honking! They are very sensitive, so you protect them so you can hear for a long time.
👶 For kids: The parts of your body that you use to hear.
More Examples
She cupped her hands around her ears to hear the faint sound.
The dog perked up its ears when it heard a whistle.
How It's Used
"The human ears are complex structures responsible for auditory perception."
"She covered her ears to block out the loud noise."
The ability to hear and understand sounds or to appreciate music.
ɪərz
The ability to hear and understand.
She has a good ear for languages.
💡 Simply: Sometimes, 'ears' can mean how well you can hear or understand something. If someone has a good ear for music, they can easily pick out all the different instruments and notes.
👶 For kids: When you can hear or understand something well, like music.
More Examples
The politician kept his ears open for criticism.
He lent a sympathetic ear to his friend's problems.
How It's Used
"She has a good ear for music."
"The detective had to keep his ears open for any clues."
The seed-bearing head of a cereal plant, such as corn or wheat.
ɪərz
The part of a cereal plant that contains the grain.
The wheat field was filled with golden ears ready for harvest.
💡 Simply: On a corn plant, the ears are where the kernels grow! They're the part we eat.
👶 For kids: The part of corn where the seeds grow.
More Examples
The farmer inspected the ears of barley for signs of disease.
The ears of corn were plump and full of kernels.
How It's Used
"The farmer harvested the ears of corn."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
all ears
Eager and ready to listen.
"I'm all ears! Tell me what happened."
play it by ear
To improvise, adapt to circumstances; to decide what to do as a situation develops.
"We don't have a plan yet, we'll just play it by ear."
turn a deaf ear
To ignore someone's pleas, warnings, or requests.
"The manager turned a deaf ear to the employees' concerns about the working conditions."
From Old English *ēare* (plural *ēaran*), Proto-Germanic *auzō* (plural *auzana-), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws (plural *h₂ews-).
The word "ears" has been used in English since Old English times, primarily to refer to the organs of hearing.