# eardrum

Pronunciation: say "EER-drum" US /ˈiɚˌdɹʌm/, UK /ˈɪəˌdɹʌm/

## Noun

1. The thin membrane between the outer ear and the middle ear, which vibrates to pass sound from the air on to the malleus.
   - Simple: A thin layer inside your ear that shakes when sound reaches it, helping you hear.
   - _An ear infection caused fluid to build up behind the eardrum._
   - _A sudden change in pressure can rupture the eardrum during a deep dive._

## Origin

Formed from the words "ear" and "drum."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/eardrum (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).