auricular
Americanadjective
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of or relating to the ear or to the sense of hearing; aural.
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perceived by or addressed to the ear; made in private.
an auricular confession.
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dependent on hearing; understood or known by hearing.
auricular evidence.
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shaped like an ear; auriculate.
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Anatomy. pertaining to an auricle of the heart.
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Ornithology. pertaining to certain often modified feathers that cover and protect the opening of a bird's ear.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, or received by the sense or organs of hearing; aural
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shaped like an ear
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of or relating to an auricle of the heart
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(of feathers) occurring in tufts surrounding the ears of owls and similar birds
noun
Other Word Forms
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."
Vocabulary lists containing auricular
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But the drama started long before any acts of auricular avarice.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 29, 2015
Lateral to this is the roughened auricular surface, which joins with the ilium portion of the hipbone to form the immobile sacroiliac joints of the pelvis.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
The auricular surfaces of each hip bone articulate with the auricular surface of the sacrum to form the sacroiliac joint.
From Textbooks ● Jun. 19, 2013
Murakami's got a new book out - will auricular delights be in store?
From The Guardian ● Feb. 18, 2013
Head partly bare, auricular orifice covered with plumes.
From British Birds in their Haunts by Rev. C. A. Johns
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