earplug

American

[eer-pluhg] / ˈɪərˌplʌg /

noun

a plug of soft, pliable material inserted into the opening of the outer ear, especially to keep out water or noise.

earplug British

/ ˈɪəˌplʌɡ /

noun

a small piece of soft material, such as wax, placed in the ear to keep out noise or water

"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

Etymology

Origin of earplug

First recorded in 1900–05; ear ¹ + plug

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023