(ir) noun
1. The organ of hearing: in man and other mammals it consists of an auricle and external auditory meatus for collecting sounds, a tympanum, containing the ossicles for transmitting them, and a labyrinth that includes the cochlea for delivering them to the end organs of the auditory nerve. ♦ Collateral adjective: aural.
2. The sense of hearing; especially, nice perception of musical sounds.
3. Attentive consideration; heed.
4. Anything like the external ear, as a projecting piece, handle, etc.
5. The external ear alone.
6. plural Spiritual understanding.
—about one's ears Surrounding one on all sides, as falling objects.
—by the ears In close struggle or conflict; at variance; as in to set by the ears, to cause discord between.
—up to the ears Colloq. Almost covered, as one sinking; almost at the end of one's resources. [OE ēare]
—ear′less adjective
NOMENCLATURE: FRONTAL SECTION OF HUMAN EAR

(ir) noun
The fruit-bearing part of a cereal plant; the head.
—in (or on) the ear On the cob, as corn; unhusked, as grain.
—v.i. To form ears, as grain. [OE ēar]

(ir) v.t. Obs.
To till with a plow. [OE erian]