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earful

[ eer-foo l ]
/ ˈɪərˌfʊl /
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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR earful ON THESAURUS.COM

noun, plural ear·fuls.

an outpouring of oral information or advice, especially when given without solicitation.
a sharp verbal rebuke; a scolding.

RELATED WORDS

instruction, word, knowledge, intelligence, advice, material, tip, clue, science, report, message, data, info, information, notice, directive, memo, memorandum, note, letter

Nearby words

  1. eardrops,
  2. eardrum,
  3. eared,
  4. eared seal,
  5. earflap,
  6. earhart,
  7. earhart, amelia,
  8. earing,
  9. earl,
  10. earl grey

Origin of earful

First recorded in 1915–20; ear1 + -ful

Usage note

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

Examples from the Web for earful

British Dictionary definitions for earful

earful

/ (ˈɪəfʊl) /

noun informal

something heard or overheard
a rebuke or scolding, esp a lengthy or severe one
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 earful

earful

n.

"a piece of one's mind," 1917, from ear (n.1) + -ful.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper