1. The externally visible cartilaginous structure of the external ear
   "She wore small gold studs in her ears";
   - auricle, pinna
    
2. The sense organ for hearing and equilibrium
   "He cupped his hand around his ear to hear better";
   - lughole [Brit, informal], lug [Brit, informal], earhole [informal]
    
3. Good hearing
   "he had a keen ear"; "a good ear for pitch"
    
4. Attention to what is said
   "he tried to get her ear"
    
5. Fruiting spike of a cereal plant especially corn
   "The farmer checked the ears of corn for ripeness";
   - spike, capitulum

Derived forms: ears

Type of: attending, attention, audition, auditory modality, auditory sense, cartilaginous structure, fruit, hearing, receptor, sense of hearing, sense organ, sensory receptor

Part of: auditory system, bean [informal], bonce [Brit, informal], caput [technical], corn, dome [informal], external ear, head, Indian corn, maize, melon [informal], napper [Brit, informal], nob [informal], noggin [informal], noodle [informal], nut [informal], outer ear, skull [informal], vestibular apparatus, vestibular system, Zea mays

Encyclopedia: Ear, nose, and throat specialist