ear

SayEER/ɪɹ//ɪə̯/

Pluralears

15 meanings of ear

1
body partnouncountable
One of the two parts on the sides of your head that you hear with.
Like a cupped hand held up to catch sounds.
She wore a silver ring through her ear.
The cold wind turned his ears bright red.
2
sense of hearingnouncountable
Your power to hear sounds, and also a good sense for hearing and judging music.
Like having sharp eyes, but for sounds instead of sights.
Her ears are sharp enough to catch a whisper across the room.
He has a great ear and learns songs just by listening.
UsageSay a good ear for music.
Similarhearing
Note
3
grain headnouncountable
The part of a grain plant like wheat or corn where the seeds grow.
Like a bunch of seeds packed tightly at the top of a tall grass stem.
The farmer pulled an ear of corn from the stalk.
Golden ears of wheat swayed across the field.
UsageSay an ear of corn.
Similarhead, spike, cob
4
willing listenernouncountable
Willing attention from someone who is ready to listen to what you have to say.
Like getting someone to stop and really listen to you.
She lent me her ear when I really needed to talk.
After years of hard work, he finally had the boss's ear.
UsageSay lend an ear: listen.
Similarattention, favor, confidence
Note
5
nouncountable
A part that sticks out from an object, used to hold it, support it, or push it.
Like the little handle on the side of a cup, sticking out so you can grab it.
He pressed his boot on the ear of the spade to push it into the soil.
The heavy pot had two small ears for lifting it off the fire.
Similarlug, handle, tab

Less common meanings

6
grow headsverbintransitive
To grow the seed-bearing heads, the way wheat or corn does.
Like a plant growing flowers, but here it grows its seed tops instead.
After the spring rains, the barley started to ear across the valley.
These oats ear earlier than the variety we planted last year.
Similarhead
7
hearverbrarehumoroustransitive
To hear something, or pick up a sound.
I eared her language.
1613, John Fletcher, William Shak[e]speareHere, eared means heard, took in the sound with the ears.
Similarhear, catch, detect
Note
8
informantnounslangcountable
A person who secretly tells the police what criminals are doing.
No I'm not kidding, and if you don't give it to me I'll let it out that you’re an ear.
1976, Stirling Silliphant, Dean RiesnerHere, ear means a person who secretly tells the police about criminals.
UsageIn everyday English, say informant.
Similarinformant, informer, mole, snitch, grass
Note
9
plowverbarchaic
To break up and turn over soil to prepare it for planting.
That power I have, discharge; and let them go To ear the land that hath some hope to grow, For I have none.
1595, William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”Here, ear means to plow land, turning the soil to prepare for planting.
And the elders of that city shall bring down the heifer unto a rough valley, which is neither eared nor sown, and shall strike off the heifer's neck there in the valley
1611, The Holy Bible, King James VersionHere, eared means plowed, with the soil turned over for planting.
Note
10
verb
To grab and hold something by its ears.
11
noun
The raised, curly part of a bread crust where the loaf was cut before baking.
12
noun
A small box next to a newspaper's name on the front page, used for ads or weather.
13
noun
One of the side flaps on a diaper that carries a fastener and wraps around the waist.
14
noun
A small piece that sticks out at the corner of a doorway, window, or roof edge on a building.
15
noun
A path through a network that repeats no point or line, though its two ends may meet.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of ear apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1–2, 4–5, 7–8

From Old English ēare, meaning "ear". It goes back through old Germanic to a very old root shared with Latin auris and Greek oûs.

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Ear descends from Old English ēare, meaning ear. en.wiktionary.org
The word has earlier Germanic ancestry. en.wiktionary.org
Ear, Latin auris and Greek oûs share an ancient Indo-European origin. en.wiktionary.org

Meanings 3, 6

From Old English ēar, meaning the head of a grain plant. It comes from an old root meaning "sharp".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Ear in the grain sense derives from Old English ēar. en.wiktionary.org
Old English ēar meant the head of a grain plant. en.wiktionary.org
The word ultimately comes from a root meaning sharp. en.wiktionary.org

Meaning 9

From Old English erian, meaning "to plough", from an old root meaning "to plough".

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

Ear derives from Old English erian. en.wiktionary.org
Old English erian means “to plough”. en.wiktionary.org
Erian ultimately derives from an older root meaning “to plough”. en.wiktionary.org