What is ear? Pronunciation and usage in English

ear means . Learn how to pronounce and use ear through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of ear

earnoun

/ɪə/
Definition & pronunciation of ear

The word "ear" in English is pronounced [ɪər].

Here's a breakdown:

  • "i" as in "bit" – a short, quick vowel sound
  • "er" as in "her" – a very short, unstressed "er" sound. It's almost like a quick, tiny "uh" sound.

Tip: Think of the word as sounding like "ih-er".

You can also find audio examples online to help you hear it:

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Usage and examples with the word ear in English

Let's break down how to use the word "ear" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word! Here's a breakdown of its meanings and how to use them, categorized for clarity:

1. The Physical Organ – Hearing

  • Basic Definition: This is the most common meaning. The ear is the organ of hearing.
  • Parts of the Ear: You can talk about specific parts:
    • Outer ear: The visible part, the pinna (the "flap" on your head). "He had a distinctive point to his outer ear."
    • Middle ear: Contains tiny bones that amplify sound. “The doctor checked my middle ear for infection.”
    • Inner ear: Contains the cochlea, which converts sound into signals the brain understands. “Damage to the inner ear can lead to hearing loss.”
  • Phrases:
    • "Keep your ears open." (Pay attention)
    • "He had excellent ears." (Good hearing)
    • "I can't hear you very well – my ears aren’t what they used to be."
    • "A blocked ear can make it hard to hear."

2. Listening – The Act of Hearing

  • “Ear” as a Noun (listening): Sometimes "ear" refers to the act of listening, rather than the physical organ.
    • "She has a good ear for music." (She's good at recognizing or appreciating musical qualities.)
    • "He’s got an ear for accents." (He can easily identify different accents)
    • "She has a good ear for detail." (She notices small details.)

3. Figurative Meanings – “Ear” as a Symbol

  • "To get something straight from the ear": This is an idiomatic expression that means to hear something directly, without distortion or through an intermediary. “I got the information straight from the ear of the CEO.”
  • "A listening ear": A person who is willing to listen without judgment. “She’s a good friend, always offers a listening ear.”

4. "Ear" as a Verb (Less Common)

  • "To ear": This means to earn a lot of money quickly, often through a lucky venture. "He ears on that investment." (He made a lot of money.) This is slightly archaic and less frequently used now.

5. Specific Uses & Contexts

  • Musical Terms:
    • "Ear training": The practice of developing your ability to recognize intervals, chords, and rhythms.
    • "Ear candy": Pleasing sounds or music.
  • Fashion: “Earrings” are ornaments worn in or on the ears. “She wore delicate silver earrings.”
  • Technology: “Headphones” or "earbuds" are devices placed near the ears to listen to audio.

Examples Putting it Together:

  • "She closed her ears to the noise and focused on the lecture." (Physical organ - blocking sound)
  • "He’s known for having a good ear for spotting talent." (Listening – judging ability)
  • "She offered a listening ear to her friend's worries." (Figurative – empathy)
  • “With a new pair of earbuds, he could clearly hear the music in his ears.” (Technology)

Resources for Further Learning:

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • What specific situation are you thinking about where you want to use “ear”? (e.g., “I want to describe someone’s hearing,” or “I’m writing a sentence about music.”)

Synonyms for the word ear

Practice with vocabulary ear

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The CEO leaned in to whisper a confidential remark into the CFO's _____.
  2. For a musician, having a good ____ for pitch is crucial for accurate performance.
  3. Despite the technical jargon, the training session provided clear instructions that were easy to ____.
  4. The new virtual reality headset provides an immersive visual experience, but the accompanying sound quality still needs significant ____.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer (Multiple answers may be correct)

  1. Which of the following anatomical terms refers to the primary organ of hearing? A) eye B) nose C) ear D) mouth

  2. If someone asks you to "lend an ear," what are they requesting? A) To borrow a listening device. B) To pay close attention to what they are saying. C) To ignore their comments. D) To offer sympathetic listening.

  3. Which of these phrases correctly uses "ear" in a common idiom or expression? A) To have an ear to the ground. B) To play it by ear. C) To have a word in someone's ear. D) To turn a deaf ear.

  4. To completely understand and internalize new information, one needs to grasp the core concepts ______. A) superficially B) thoroughly C) partially D) fleetingly

  5. Which word best describes the ability to perceive sounds, crucial for communication and environmental awareness? A) vision B) hearing C) touch D) taste

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Original: He ignored all the advice given to him by the experienced consultants. Rewrite: He turned a deaf _____ to all the advice given to him by the experienced consultants.

  2. Original: The unconfirmed rumor about the company's restructuring quickly spread among the employees. Rewrite: The unconfirmed rumor about the company's restructuring quickly reached many _____ among the employees.

  3. Original: To succeed in this role, you must be able to understand and adapt to new technologies quickly. Rewrite: To succeed in this role, you must be able to _____ and adapt to new technologies quickly.

Answer:

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks

  1. The CEO leaned in to whisper a confidential remark into the CFO's ear.
  2. For a musician, having a good ear for pitch is crucial for accurate performance.
  3. Despite the technical jargon, the training session provided clear instructions that were easy to follow.
  4. The new virtual reality headset provides an immersive visual experience, but the accompanying sound quality still needs significant improvement.

Exercise 2: Choose the correct answer

  1. C) ear
  2. B) To pay close attention to what they are saying., D) To offer sympathetic listening.
  3. A) To have an ear to the ground., B) To play it by ear., C) To have a word in someone's ear., D) To turn a deaf ear.
  4. B) thoroughly
  5. B) hearing

Exercise 3: Rewrite the sentences

  1. Rewrite: He turned a deaf ear to all the advice given to him by the experienced consultants.
  2. Rewrite: The unconfirmed rumor about the company's restructuring quickly reached many ears among the employees.
  3. Rewrite: To succeed in this role, you must be able to learn and adapt to new technologies quickly.

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