eardrums
SayEER-drumzUS/ˈiɚˌdɹʌmz/UK/ˈɪəˌdɹʌmz/
- 1Plural of eardrum.
The sudden pressure change made both of his eardrums ache during the flight.
Repeated exposure to gunfire can permanently damage soldiers' eardrums.
Note
A compound noun that takes its plural only at the end: the -s attaches to drum, never to ear, so the membranes between outer and middle ear become eardrums. The possessive works the same way, written eardrum's for one and eardrums' for several. Since each ear has its own, one person already has two, which is why the plural so often pairs with both.
eardrums is a form of eardrum
eardrum, noun: The thin membrane between the outer ear and the middle ear, which vibrates to pass sound from the air on to the malleus. Full entry
- Forms
- eardrumeardrums plural
- Spelling
- eardrum → eardrums: add -s
- Sound
- The ending sounds like /z/.
Use it in a sentence
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