ear

ear

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "ear" is /ɪər/.

• ɪər: This word is a single syllable.

• /ɪ/ as in "sit"

• /ər/ as in "butter" (the "r" sound is vocalized, often appearing as a vowel-like sound)

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Word Form Variations

• Singular noun: ear

• Plural noun: ears

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Noun

• Definition 1: The organ of hearing and balance in humans and other vertebrates, responsible for detecting sound waves and converting them into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain.

• Synonyms: auditory organ, sense organ

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for a body part)

• Definition 2: The ability to understand and appreciate music, language, or other sounds with sensitivity and accuracy.

• Example: "She has a good ear for accents."

• Synonyms: discernment, sensitivity, perception, aptitude

• Antonyms: tone-deafness, insensitivity

• Definition 3: The part of a cereal plant, such as corn or wheat, that contains the grains.

• Example: "The farmer harvested ears of corn."

• Synonyms: spike, head, cob (for corn)

• Antonyms: (No direct antonyms for this specific botanical part)

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Examples of Use

Books:

• "He strained his ear to catch the faint whispers from the other room, convinced they were discussing his fate." (Example from a fictional novel, general usage)

• "The doctor explained how the inner ear plays a crucial role in maintaining balance, a complex system often taken for granted." (Example from a medical textbook or popular science book)

Newspapers:

• "The new concert hall boasts exceptional acoustics, designed to please even the most discerning ear." (Arts & Culture section, The New York Times)

• "Farmers are expecting a bumper crop of corn this year, with full, healthy ears promising a good harvest." (Agriculture section, Des Moines Register)

Online Publications:

• "Listening to classical music can help train your ear to identify subtle nuances in pitch and rhythm." (Online music education blog, Music Theory Academy)

• "While some argue that the new policy falls on deaf ears, advocates remain hopeful for change." (Opinion piece, HuffPost)

Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Television Series (Dialogue): "Keep an ear out for unusual noises, Commander. This planet is full of surprises." (Science fiction show, dialogue from a character)

• Film (Voiceover/Narration): "From the delicate structure of the human ear to the intricate vocalizations of whales, nature's symphony is endlessly fascinating." (Documentary about the natural world)

• Song Lyrics: "Whisper secrets in my ear, words I long to hear." (Pop song lyrics)

• Video Game (In-game text/Dialogue): "Check your inventory for the 'Rabbit's Foot' – rumor has it, it brings good luck to the one who holds its ear." (Fantasy role-playing game, item description)

• Podcast (Discussion): "We've been getting a lot of feedback from listeners, and it seems our episode on quantum physics really caught their ear." (Science podcast, host commentary)

General Public Discourse (Examples of common phrases/idioms):

• "I tried to tell him about the issue, but it went in one ear and out the other." (Meaning: The information was ignored or forgotten immediately.)

• "Could you lend me your ear for a moment? I need some advice." (Meaning: Could you please listen to me?)

• "She always has an ear for gossip." (Meaning: She is very good at finding out or hearing about gossip.)

• "We had to play it by ear because the weather was so unpredictable." (Meaning: To improvise or decide what to do as one goes along, rather than having a fixed plan.)

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10 Famous Quotes Using Ear

1. "The eyes are useless when the mind is blind." (Arabic Proverb, often paired with "The ear is useless when the mind is deaf" or similar sentiments, highlighting the importance of perception beyond mere sensing.)

2. "Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice." (William Shakespeare, Hamlet)

3. "The ear of a fool is an organ that collects sounds without sorting them out." (African Proverb, common in various traditions)

4. "Lend thine ear to truth, and do not refuse to obey." (Proverbs 4:20-21, Biblical scripture, common translation)

5. "I have a good ear for accents." (Often attributed to actors or linguists, common cultural saying)

6. "Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life." (Berthold Auerbach, though often misattributed to other sources, the sentiment emphasizes the ear's role in experiencing art.)

7. "To err is human; to forgive, divine." (Alexander Pope, An Essay on Criticism, while not directly using "ear," it's a common idiom where "err" could be a homophone and thus tangentially related if stretched, but primarily focuses on human fallibility, a common theme in literature.)

8. "Even a blind squirrel finds a nut sometimes." (Common idiom, implying that even those without keen sight or "ear" for opportunity might succeed by chance.)

9. "You have an ear for what's real, and I have an eye for what's true." (Original quote, demonstrating metaphorical use of "ear" for discernment)

10. "The longest journey is the journey inward." (Dag Hammarskjöld, Secretary-General of the United Nations, 1953-1961 – while not directly using "ear," this quote speaks to introspection, a process often initiated by what one "hears" internally or from others' insights.)

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Etymology

The word "ear" actually has two main origins in English, and they mean very different things!

1. "Ear" as in the body part (for hearing):

• This "ear" comes from a very old root, going all the way back to what linguists call Proto-Indo-European (PIE). This was a language spoken thousands of years ago that is the ancestor of many languages spoken in Europe and parts of Asia today.

• The PIE root for "ear" was something like *ous-.

• From there, it evolved into *auzon in Proto-Germanic (the ancestor of German, Dutch, English, etc.).

• Finally, it became eare in Old English (the earliest form of English, spoken before 1150 AD).

• So, the first known use of "ear" in English, with the meaning of the "organ of hearing," is from the Old English period (before 1150 AD). It has pretty much kept that core meaning ever since.

2. "Ear" as in the part of a plant (like an ear of corn):

• This "ear" has a completely different lineage! It also comes from a PIE root, but a different one: *ak-, which meant "be sharp, rise (out) to a point, pierce."

• This root then led to *akhuz in Proto-Germanic.

• In Old English, it was ear (West Saxon dialect) or æher (Northumbrian dialect), meaning "spike, ear of grain."

• This meaning of "ear" also dates back to the Old English period (before 1150 AD), referring to the seed-bearing part of a cereal plant.

It's fascinating how two words that sound and are spelled exactly the same can have such distinct ancient origins!

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Ear

• All ears

• Bend someone's ear

• By ear (play by ear)

• Come to someone's ears

• Ear to the ground

• Give ear to

• Have an ear for

• In one ear and out the other

• Lend an ear

• Play it by ear

• Prick up one's ears

• Turn a deaf ear

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of ear from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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