outer ear

American  

noun

outer ears plural

1. external ear.

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outer ear Scientific  

/ ou′tər /

1. The part of the ear in many vertebrates that is external to the eardrum (tympanic membrane) and contains the canal leading to the eardrum as well as the ear lobe and other visible structures. In mammals, the outer ear, which is made mostly of cartilage, gathers and focuses incoming sound waves and transmits them to the eardrum.

2. See more at ear

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outer ear Cultural  

1. The part of the ear that projects from the side of the head and functions to gather and guide sound waves toward the eardrum.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• outer ears
  plural

Etymology

Origin of outer ear

First recorded in 1930–35