earphone

American  

[eer-fohn] / ˈɪərˌfoʊn /

noun

1. a sound receiver that fits in or over the ear, as of a radio or telephone.

2. Usually earphones. a headset; headphone.

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earphone British  

/ ˈɪəˌfəʊn /

noun

1. a device for converting electric currents into sound waves, held close to or inserted into the ear

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Etymology

Origin of earphone

First recorded in 1920–25; ear ¹ + phone ¹

Example Sentences

Within weeks of arriving, I loathed Madras, where rats stole the padding from my earphones, the humidity left me weak and men tailed my mother in traffic, desperate to buy our imported car.

From The Wall Street Journal

“I was back in New York, and I was walking down the street and a guy looked up at me, pulled earphones out of his head and said, ‘Hey … you’re on my iPod!’

From Los Angeles Times

In Stuart's earphones has been a podcast detailing the brutality of the Eastern Front in World War Two.

From BBC

Here was a middle-aged woman, fresh off a run, casually clutching a pair of earphones in her hand while she placed an important work call.

From Los Angeles Times

Small portable radios were common, but they didn’t sound good and usually came with just a small earphone that went in one ear.

From NewsForKids.net