ear

noun

1. the sense organ for hearing and equilibrium

   Less specific

   • sense organ, sensory receptor, receptor

   Parts

   • vestibule of the ear, eardrum, tympanum, tympanic membrane, myringa, organ of hearing, fenestra, auricular artery, arteria auricularis

   Part of

   • head, caput, auditory system, vestibular apparatus, vestibular system

2. good hearing; “he had a keen ear”; “a good ear for pitch”

   Less specific

   • hearing, audition, auditory sense, sense of hearing, auditory modality

3. the externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external ear

   Synonyms

   • auricle, pinna

   Less specific

   • cartilaginous structure

   More specific

   • cauliflower ear

   Parts

   • earlobe, ear lobe, tragus

   Part of

   • external ear, outer ear

4. attention to what is said; “he tried to get her ear”

   Less specific

   • attention, attending

5. fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn

   Synonyms

   • spike, capitulum

   Less specific

   • fruit

   More specific

   • mealie

   Part of

   • corn, maize, Indian corn, Zea mays