auricular

American  

[aw-rik-yuh-ler] / ɔˈrɪk yə lər /

adjective

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

2. perceived by or addressed to the ear; made in private.

   an auricular confession.

3. dependent on hearing; understood or known by hearing.

   auricular evidence.

4. shaped like an ear; auriculate.

5. Anatomy. pertaining to an auricle of the heart.

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

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noun

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

auricular British  

/ ɔːˈrɪkjʊlə /

adjective

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

2. shaped like an ear

3. of or relating to an auricle of the heart

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

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noun

1. (usually plural) an auricular feather

Other Word Forms

• auricularly adverb
• interauricular adjective
• nonauricular adjective
• postauricular adjective
• preauricular adjective

Etymology

Origin of auricular

First recorded in 1535–45, auricular is from the Late Latin word auriculāris of, pertaining to the ear. See auricle, -ar ¹

Explanation

Something that's auricular has to do with ears or hearing. An auricular message might be one you whisper into your friend's ear. You can use auricular to describe things that are shaped like an ear, like an auricular shell on the beach or an auricular flower in a garden. Other things are auricular because they're heard or are otherwise related to ears. The auricular muscles, for example, are the ones around your ears. Things having to do with the (ear-shaped) auricles, or atriums, of the heart can also be described as auricular. The Latin root is auricula, or "ear."

Example Sentences

Problemas cardiovasculares, como cardiopatías, infartos y arritmias como la fibrilación auricular.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2023

But the drama started long before any acts of auricular avarice.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2015

The auricular surfaces are articulation sites on the lateral sacrum that anchor the sacrum to the hipbones to form the pelvis.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Murakami's got a new book out - will auricular delights be in store?

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2013

Who can read the above extract from Michelet on auricular confession, without fancying that it is nothing more than one of those effusions with which rich fancies like his frequently abound?

From Auricular Confession and Popish Nunneries Volumes I. and II., Complete by Hogan, William