ear
noun (ear, ears)
Everyday
- One of the two parts on the sides of the head that you hear with. tree →
- The ability to hear or notice sounds: "She has a good ear for music." tree →
- The top part of a cereal plant that holds the grains: "an ear of corn". tree →
In the lessons
In science, the ear catches sound vibrations and sends signals to the brain; it also helps balance. In safety: never put things in your ears; loud noise can damage hearing. Phrases: all ears (listening), play it by ear (decide as you go), ear of corn, earache, earring.
Examples
- We hear with our ears. tree →
- Rabbits have long ears. tree →
- Don't put anything in your ear. tree →
- I'm all ears — tell me! tree →
- She has an ear for music. tree →
- Loud noise can hurt your ears. tree →
- We'll play it by ear. tree →
- He ate an ear of corn. tree →
- Then she whispered in his ear: tree →
Note
Plural "ears". Your ears help you keep your balance. "Earache" is a pain in the ear. Loud music through headphones can damage hearing over time.
In Jewish tradition
Besides a body part, it also means a head of grain, as in Pharaoh's dream of the seven good and seven thin ears. "To give ear" means to listen carefully.
Interpretation. Joseph's reading of the ears as seven years of plenty and seven of famine is a model of dream interpretation in the tradition. The Psalms teach that the God who made the ear surely hears.
Examples
- And the thin ears swallowed up the seven good ears. (Torah GEN.41.24, JPS 1917) tree →
- And the thin ears swallowed up the seven rank and full ears. (Torah GEN.41.7, JPS 1917) tree →
- And, behold, seven ears, thin and blasted with the east wind, sprung up after them. (Torah GEN.41.6, JPS 1917) tree →
- Who among you will give ear to this? (Prophets ISA.42.23, JPS 1917) tree →
- He that planted the ear, shall He not hear? (Writings PSA.94.9, JPS 1917) tree →
- For the ear trieth words, as the palate tasteth food. (Writings JOB.34.3, JPS 1917) tree →
Note
Plural "ears". Your ears help you keep your balance. "Earache" is a pain in the ear. Loud music through headphones can damage hearing over time.
Early Modern English
Meaning
One of the two parts on the sides of the head used for hearing; "give ear" means listen. tree →
Then and now
Today "give ear" is old-fashioned and we say "listen." The first sentence uses that old phrase; the other two use the body part as we do.
Examples
- Give ear, ye heavens, and I will speak; and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. (Torah DEU.32.1, JPS 1917) tree →
- Then she whispered in his ear: (The Red Fairy Book) tree →
- From thence further go and reckon what the mouth cannot express and the ear cannot hear. (Sefer Yetzirah, Kalisch 1877) tree →
Note
Today: ear; listen (for "give ear").
On Mova
- Trees and pragmatics of «ear» in the school dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «ear» in the school dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «ear» in the Judaism dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «ear» in the Judaism dictionary on Mova free.
- Trees and pragmatics of «ear» in the Early Modern English dictionary: every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- «ear» in the Early Modern English dictionary on Mova free.
This page in Markdown → https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/ear/