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ear

more about ear

ear


  9  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ear  \Ear\,  n.  [AS.  e['a]re;  akin  to  OFries  ['a]re,  ['a]r,  OS 
  ?ra,  D.  oor,  OHG.  ?ra,  G.  ohr,  Icel.  eyra,  Sw  ["o]ra,  Dan. 
  ["o]re,  Goth.  auso,  L.  auris,  Lith.  ausis,  Russ.  ukho  Gr  ?; 
  cf  L.  audire  to  hear,  Gr  ?,  Skr.  av  to  favor,  protect.  Cf 
  {Auricle},  {Orillon}.] 
  1.  The  organ  of  hearing;  the  external  ear. 
 
  Note:  In  man  and  the  higher  vertebrates,  the  organ  of  hearing 
  is  very  complicated,  and  is  divisible  into  three  parts: 
  the  external  ear,  which  includes  the  pinna  or  auricle 
  and  meatus  or  external  opening;  the  middle  ear,  drum, 
  or  tympanum;  and  the  internal  ear,  or  labyrinth.  The 
  middle  ear  is  a  cavity  connected  by  the  Eustachian  tube 
  with  the  pharynx,  separated  from  the  opening  of  the 
  external  ear  by  the  tympanic  membrane,  and  containing  a 
  chain  of  three  small  bones,  or  ossicles,  named  malleus, 
  incus,  and  stapes,  which  connect  this  membrane  with  the 
  internal  ear.  The  essential  part  of  the  internal  ear 
  where  the  fibers  of  the  auditory  nerve  terminate,  is 
  the  membranous  labyrinth,  a  complicated  system  of  sacs 
  and  tubes  filled  with  a  fluid  (the  endolymph),  and 
  lodged  in  a  cavity,  called  the  bony  labyrinth,  in  the 
  periotic  bone.  The  membranous  labyrinth  does  not 
  completely  fill  the  bony  labyrinth,  but  is  partially 
  suspended  in  it  in  a  fluid  (the  perilymph).  The  bony 
  labyrinth  consists  of  a  central  cavity,  the  vestibule, 
  into  which  three  semicircular  canals  and  the  canal  of 
  the  cochlea  (spirally  coiled  in  mammals)  open  The 
  vestibular  portion  of  the  membranous  labyrinth  consists 
  of  two  sacs,  the  utriculus  and  sacculus,  connected  by  a 
  narrow  tube,  into  the  former  of  which  three  membranous 
  semicircular  canals  open  while  the  latter  is  connected 
  with  a  membranous  tube  in  the  cochlea  containing  the 
  organ  of  Corti.  By  the  help  of  the  external  ear  the 
  sonorous  vibrations  of  the  air  are  concentrated  upon 
  the  tympanic  membrane  and  set  it  vibrating,  the  chain 
  of  bones  in  the  middle  ear  transmits  these  vibrations 
  to  the  internal  ear,  where  they  cause  certain  delicate 
  structures  in  the  organ  of  Corti,  and  other  parts  of 
  the  membranous  labyrinth,  to  stimulate  the  fibers  of 
  the  auditory  nerve  to  transmit  sonorous  impulses  to  the 
  brain. 
 
  2.  The  sense  of  hearing;  the  perception  of  sounds;  the  power 
  of  discriminating  between  different  tones;  as  a  nice  ear 
  for  music;  --  in  the  singular  only. 
 
  Songs  .  .  .  not  all  ungrateful  to  thine  ear. 
  --Tennyson. 
 
  3.  That  which  resembles  in  shape  or  position  the  ear  of  an 
  animal;  any  prominence  or  projection  on  an  object,  -- 
  usually  one  for  support  or  attachment;  a  lug;  a  handle; 
  as  the  ears  of  a  tub,  a  skillet,  or  dish.  The  ears  of  a 
  boat  are  outside  kneepieces  near  the  bow.  See  Illust.  of 
  {Bell}. 
 
  4.  (Arch.) 
  a  Same  as  {Acroterium}. 
  b  Same  as  {Crossette}. 
 
  5.  Privilege  of  being  kindly  heard;  favor;  attention. 
 
  Dionysius  .  .  .  would  give  no  ear  to  his  suit. 
  --Bacon. 
 
  Friends,  Romans,  countrymen,  lend  me  your  ears. 
  --Shak. 
 
  {About  the  ears},  in  close  proximity  to  near  at  hand. 
 
  {By  the  ears},  in  close  contest;  as  to  set  by  the  ears;  to 
  fall  together  by  the  ears;  to  be  by  the  ears. 
 
  {Button  ear}  (in  dogs),  an  ear  which  falls  forward  and 
  completely  hides  the  inside. 
 
  {Ear  finger},  the  little  finger. 
 
  {Ear  of  Dionysius},  a  kind  of  ear  trumpet  with  a  flexible 
  tube;  --  named  from  the  Sicilian  tyrant,  who  constructed  a 
  device  to  overhear  the  prisoners  in  his  dungeons. 
 
  {Ear  sand}  (Anat.),  otoliths  See  {Otolith}. 
 
  {Ear  snail}  (Zo["o]l.),  any  snail  of  the  genus  {Auricula}  and 
  allied  genera. 
 
  {Ear  stones}  (Anat.),  otoliths  See  {Otolith}. 
 
  {Ear  trumpet},  an  instrument  to  aid  in  hearing.  It  consists 
  of  a  tube  broad  at  the  outer  end  and  narrowing  to  a 
  slender  extremity  which  enters  the  ear,  thus  collecting 
  and  intensifying  sounds  so  as  to  assist  the  hearing  of  a 
  partially  deaf  person. 
 
  {Ear  vesicle}  (Zo["o]l.),  a  simple  auditory  organ,  occurring 
  in  many  worms,  mollusks,  etc  It  consists  of  a  small  sac 
  containing  a  fluid  and  one  or  more  solid  concretions  or 
  otocysts. 
 
  {Rose  ear}  (in  dogs),  an  ear  which  folds  backward  and  shows 
  part  of  the  inside. 
 
  {To  give  ear  to},  to  listen  to  to  heed,  as  advice  or  one 
  advising.  ``Give  ear  unto  my  song.''  --Goldsmith. 
 
  {To  have  one's  ear},  to  be  listened  to  with  favor. 
 
  {Up  to  the  ears},  deeply  submerged;  almost  overwhelmed;  as 
  to  be  in  trouble  up  to  one's  ears.  [Colloq.] 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ear  \Ear\,  v.  t.  [OE.  erien,  AS  erian;  akin  to  OFries  era, 
  OHG.  erran,  MHG.  eren,  ern,  Prov.  G.  aren,  ["a]ren,  Icel. 
  erja,  Goth.  arjan,  Lith.  arti,  OSlav.  orati,  L.  arare,  Gr  ?. 
  Cf  {Arable}.] 
  To  plow  or  till;  to  cultivate.  ``To  ear  the  land.''  --Shak. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ear  \Ear\,  v.  t.  [imp.  &  p.  p.  {Eared};  p.  pr  &  vb  n. 
  {Earing}.] 
  To  take  in  with  the  ears;  to  hear.  [Sportive]  ``I  eared  her 
  language.''  --Two  Noble  Kinsmen. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ear  \Ear\,  n.  [AS.  ear;  akin  to  D.  aar,  OHG.  ahir,  G.  ["a]hre, 
  Icel.,  Sw.,  &  Dan.  ax  Goth.  ahs.  ???.  Cf  {Awn},  {Edge}.] 
  The  spike  or  head  of  any  cereal  (as,  wheat,  rye,  barley, 
  Indian  corn,  etc.),  containing  the  kernels. 
 
  First  the  blade,  then  the  ear,  after  that  the  full  corn 
  in  the  ear.  --Mark  iv  28. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Ear  \Ear\,  v.  i. 
  To  put  forth  ears  in  growing;  to  form  ears,  as  grain;  as 
  this  corn  ears  well 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Canon  \Can"on\,  n.  [OE.  canon,  canoun,  AS  canon  rule  (cf.  F. 
  canon,  LL  canon,  and  for  sense  7,  F.  chanoine  LL 
  canonicus),  fr  L.  canon  a  measuring  line  rule  model,  fr 
  Gr  ?  rule  rod,  fr  ?,  ?,  red.  See  {Cane},  and  cf 
  {Canonical}.] 
  1.  A  law  or  rule 
 
  Or  that  the  Everlasting  had  not  fixed  His  canon 
  'gainst  self-slaughter.  --Shak. 
 
  2.  (Eccl.)  A  law,  or  rule  of  doctrine  or  discipline,  enacted 
  by  a  council  and  confirmed  by  the  pope  or  the  sovereign;  a 
  decision,  regulation,  code,  or  constitution  made  by 
  ecclesiastical  authority. 
 
  Various  canons  which  were  made  in  councils  held  in 
  the  second  centry.  --Hock. 
 
  3.  The  collection  of  books  received  as  genuine  Holy 
  Scriptures,  called  the  {sacred  canon},  or  general  rule  of 
  moral  and  religious  duty,  given  by  inspiration;  the  Bible; 
  also  any  one  of  the  canonical  Scriptures.  See  {Canonical 
  books},  under  {Canonical},  a. 
 
  4.  In  monasteries,  a  book  containing  the  rules  of  a  religious 
  order 
 
  5.  A  catalogue  of  saints  acknowledged  and  canonized  in  the 
  Roman  Catholic  Church. 
 
  6.  A  member  of  a  cathedral  chapter;  a  person  who  possesses  a 
  prebend  in  a  cathedral  or  collegiate  church. 
 
  7.  (Mus.)  A  musical  composition  in  which  the  voices  begin  one 
  after  another,  at  regular  intervals,  successively  taking 
  up  the  same  subject.  It  either  winds  up  with  a  coda 
  (tailpiece),  or  as  each  voice  finishes,  commences  anew, 
  thus  forming  a  perpetual  fugue  or  round.  It  is  the 
  strictest  form  of  imitation.  See  {Imitation}. 
 
  8.  (Print.)  The  largest  size  of  type  having  a  specific  name 
  --  so  called  from  having  been  used  for  printing  the  canons 
  of  the  church. 
 
  9.  The  part  of  a  bell  by  which  it  is  suspended;  --  called 
  also  {ear}  and  {shank}. 
 
  Note:  [See  Illust.  of  {Bell}.]  --Knight. 
 
  10.  (Billiards)  See  {Carom}. 
 
  {Apostolical  canons}.  See  under  {Apostolical}. 
 
  {Augustinian  canons},  {Black  canons}.  See  under 
  {Augustinian}. 
 
  {Canon  capitular},  {Canon  residentiary},  a  resident  member  of 
  a  cathedral  chapter  (during  a  part  or  the  whole  of  the 
  year). 
 
  {Canon  law}.  See  under  {Law}. 
 
  {Canon  of  the  Mass}  (R.  C.  Ch.),  that  part  of  the  mass, 
  following  the  Sanctus,  which  never  changes. 
 
  {Honorary  canon},  a  canon  who  neither  lived  in  a  monastery, 
  nor  kept  the  canonical  hours. 
 
  {Minor  canon}  (Ch.  of  Eng.),  one  who  has  been  admitted  to  a 
  chapter,  but  has  not  yet  received  a  prebend. 
 
  {Regular  canon}  (R.  C.  Ch.),  one  who  lived  in  a  conventual 
  community  and  follower  the  rule  of  St  Austin;  a  Black 
  canon. 
 
  {Secular  canon}  (R.  C.  Ch.),  one  who  did  not  live  in  a 
  monastery,  but  kept  the  hours. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Crossette  \Cros*sette"\  (kr?s-s?t`),  n.  [F.,  dim.  of  crosse.  See 
  {Crosier}.]  (Arch.) 
  a  A  return  in  one  of  the  corners  of  the  architrave  of  a 
  door  or  window;  --  called  also  {ancon},  {ear},  {elbow}. 
  b  The  shoulder  of  a  joggled  keystone. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  ear 
  n  1:  the  sense  organ  for  hearing  and  equilibrium 
  2:  good  hearing;  "he  had  a  keen  ear";  "a  good  ear  for  pitch" 
  3:  the  externally  visible  cartilaginous  structure  of  the 
  external  ear  [syn:  {auricle},  {pinna}] 
  4:  attention  to  what  is  said  "he  tried  to  get  her  ear" 
  5:  fruiting  spike  of  a  cereal  plant  especially  corn  [syn:  {spike}, 
  {capitulum}] 
 
  From  Easton's  1897  Bible  Dictionary  [easton]: 
 
  Ear 
  used  frequently  in  a  figurative  sense  (Ps.  34:15).  To  "uncover 
  the  ear"  is  to  show  respect  to  a  person  (1  Sam.  20:2  marg.).  To 
  have  the  "ear  heavy",  or  to  have  "uncircumcised  ears"  (Isa. 
  6:10),  is  to  be  inattentive  and  disobedient.  To  have  the  ear 
  bored"  through  with  an  awl  was  a  sign  of  perpetual  servitude 
  (Ex.  21:6). 
 




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