earpiece

Everyday

1. The part of a phone, headphones or other device that you hold to or put in your ear to hear sound. tree →
2. A tiny speaker worn in the ear, used by security guards, TV presenters or with hearing aids. tree →
3. One of the arms of a pair of glasses that rest over the ears. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, people use earpieces for phone calls or music; security guards and TV presenters wear earpieces to hear instructions. In science, the earpiece of a stethoscope goes in the doctor's ears. Phrases: «a wireless earpiece», «speak into the earpiece».

Examples

• The security guard listened to his earpiece. tree →
• The newsreader heard the producer through her earpiece. tree →
• My earpiece fell out when I was running. tree →
• The doctor put the stethoscope earpieces in her ears. tree →
• One earpiece of my glasses is bent. tree →
• Dad uses an earpiece to talk on the phone while driving. tree →

Note

Countable compound noun: ear + piece. Uses «an» before it: an earpiece. Safety: keep the volume low to protect hearing, and do not wear both ears covered when crossing roads.