auricular

[aw-rik-yuh-ler]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR auricular ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to the ear or to the sense of hearing; aural.

perceived by or addressed to the ear; made in private: an auricular confession.

dependent on hearing; understood or known by hearing: auricular evidence.

shaped like an ear; auriculate.

Anatomy. pertaining to an auricle of the heart.

Ornithology. pertaining to certain often modified feathers that cover and protect the opening of a bird's ear.

noun

Usually auriculars. Ornithology. feathers that cover and protect the opening of a bird's ear.

Origin of auricular

First recorded in 1535–45, auricular is from the Late Latin word auriculāris of, pertaining to the ear. See auricle, -ar¹

Related formsau·ric·u·lar·ly, adverbin·ter·au·ric·u·lar, adjectivenon·au·ric·u·lar, adjectivepost·au·ric·u·lar, adjectivepre·au·ric·u·lar, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for auricular

otic, audible, hearsay, phonic

Examples from the Web for auricular

Historical Examples of auricular

It appears that many are opposed to celibacy of the clergy and auricular confession.
The Philippine Islands
John Foreman
Auricular confession is nothing else than a most stupendous imposture.
The Priest, The Woman And The Confessional
Father Chiniquy
Is this not sufficient to warn you of the danger of auricular confession?
The Priest, The Woman And The Confessional
Father Chiniquy
But let us come to my first lesson in Auricular Confession, No!
The Priest, The Woman And The Confessional
Father Chiniquy
The latter are all cordate, while in the normal the upper leaves are auricular.
The Sea Shore
William S. Furneaux

British Dictionary definitions for auricular

auricular

adjective

of, relating to, or received by the sense or organs of hearing; aural

shaped like an ear

of or relating to an auricle of the heart

(of feathers) occurring in tufts surrounding the ears of owls and similar birds

noun

(usually plural) an auricular feather

Derived Formsauricularly, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for auricular

adj.

1540s, "auditory" (originally of confessions), from Medieval Latin auricularis, from Latin auricula (see auricle). Meaning "pertaining to the ear" is from 1640s.

auricular in Medicine

auricular

[ô-rĭk′yə-lər]

adj.

Of or relating to the sense of hearing or the organs of hearing.

Perceived by or spoken into the ear, as when testing hearing.

Shaped like an ear or an earlobe; having earlike parts or extensions.

Of or relating to an auricle of the heart.