auricular

[ aw-rik-yuh-ler ]

/ ɔˈrɪk yə lər /

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.

RELATED WORDS

otic, audible, hearsay, phonic

Nearby words

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 forms

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

pre·au·ric·u·lar, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for auricular

It is his voice speaking to their consciences, and warning them of the danger and corruption 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
Graphic records are not essential as in auricular flutter to establish the condition.
Arteriosclerosis and Hypertension:|Louis Marshall Warfield
Sixth, That auricular confession to a priest must be maintained.
Heretics And Heresies|Robert G. Ingersoll

This Greek compound surely means "mouse-ear," and what have these plants to do with the auricular organs of mice?
Everyday Objects|W. H. Davenport Adams

British Dictionary definitions for auricular

auricular

/ (ɔːˈrɪkjʊlə) /

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

auricular

adj.

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

Medicine definitions for auricular

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.