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Ear vs Rear - What's the difference?

ear | rear |

As verbs the difference between ear and rear

is that ear is (label) refuse, deny; repel while rear is to raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate or rear can be to move; stir or rear can be to place in the rear; to secure the rear of.

As an adjective rear is

(of eggs) underdone; nearly raw or rear can be being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.

As an adverb rear is

(british|dialect) early; soon.

As a noun rear is

the back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front.

ear

English

Etymology 1

From (etyl) (m), .

Noun

(en noun)
  • (countable) The organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea.
  • (countable) The external part of the organ of hearing, the auricle.
  • *
  • , title=(The Celebrity), chapter=4 , passage=Judge Short had gone to town, and Farrar was off for a three days' cruise up the lake. I was bitterly regretting I had not gone with him when the distant notes of a coach horn reached my ear , and I descried a four-in-hand winding its way up the inn road from the direction of Mohair.}}
  • (countable, slang) A police informant.
  • * 1976 , Stirling Silliphant, Dean Riesner, Gail Morgan Hickman, .
  • No I'm not kidding, and if you don't give it to me I'll let it out that you’re an ear.
  • The sense of hearing; the perception of sounds; the power of discriminating between different tones.
  • *
  • songsnot all ungrateful to thine ear
  • The privilege of being kindly heard; favour; attention.
  • * (Francis Bacon)
  • Dionysiuswould give no ear to his suit.
  • * (William Shakespeare)
  • Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears .
  • That which resembles in shape or position the ear of an animal; a prominence or projection on an object, usually for support or attachment; a lug; a handle.
  • (architecture) An acroterium.
  • (architecture) A crossette.
  • Alternative forms
    * ere
    Derived terms
    * bend somebody's ear * between the ears * by ear * cauliflower ear * earache * earbud * ear canal * eardrum * earful * earhole * earlobe * earmark * earpiece * earphone * earprint * earring * ears are burning * earshot * earsore * ear to the ground * ear trumpet * earwax * external ear * have one's ears lowered * inner ear * little pitchers have big ears * make a silk purse of a sow's ear * middle ear * mind's ear * out on one's ear * outer ear * surfer’s ear * swimmer’s ear * (ear)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (humorous) To take in with the ears; to hear.
  • * Two Noble Kinsmen
  • I eared her language.

    See also

    * (wikipedia) * (l)

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) . More at (m).

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (countable) The fruiting body of a grain plant.
  • He is in the fields, harvesting ears of corn.
    Synonyms
    * head * spike

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain does.
  • This corn ears well.

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) (m), from (etyl) .

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • (archaic) To plough.
  • * 1595 , William Shakespeare, Richard II :
  • That power I have, discharge; and let them go
    To ear the land that hath some hope to grow,
    For I have none.

    rear

    English

    Etymology 1

    From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) . More at (l).

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To raise physically; to lift up; to cause to rise, to elevate.
  • * (rfdate)
  • In adoration at his feet I fell Submiss; he reared me.
  • * (rfdate)
  • Mine [shall be] the first hand to rear her banner.
  • To construct by building; to set up
  • to rear defenses or houses
    to rear one government on the ruins of another.
  • * (rfdate)
  • One reared a font of stone.
  • To raise spiritually; to lift up; to elevate morally.
  • * (rfdate)
  • It reareth our hearts from vain thoughts.
  • (obsolete) To lift and take up.
  • * (rfdate)
  • And having her from Trompart lightly reared , Upon his set the lovely load.
  • To bring up to maturity, as offspring; to educate; to instruct; to foster.
  • * (rfdate)
  • He wants a father to protect his youth, and rear him up to virtue.
  • To breed and raise; as, to rear cattle (cattle-rearing).
  • (obsolete) To rouse; to strip up.
  • * (rfdate),
  • And seeks the tusky boar to rear.
  • To rise up on the hind legs, as a bolting horse.
  • Usage notes
    See note under raise.
    Synonyms
    * (rise up on the hind legs) prance * build * elevate * erect * establish * lift * raise
    Derived terms
    * raring

    Etymology 2

    From (etyl) reren, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To move; stir.
  • (of geese) To carve.
  • Rere that goose!

    Etymology 3

    From (etyl) rere, from (etyl) .

    Alternative forms

    * (l), (l) * (l) (US)

    Adjective

    (en-adj)
  • (of eggs) Underdone; nearly raw.
  • (of meats) Rare.
  • Derived terms
    * (l) * (l)

    Etymology 4

    (etyl) rere, ultimately from (etyl) retro. Compare arrear.

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Being behind, or in the hindmost part; hindmost; as, the rear rank of a company.
  • Antonyms
    * front

    Adverb

    (en adverb)
  • (British, dialect) early; soon
  • * (rfdate) .
  • Then why does Cuddy leave his cot so rear !

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • The back or hindmost part; that which is behind, or last on order; - opposed to front.
  • * (rfdate)
  • Nipped with the lagging rear of winter's frost.
  • (military) Specifically, the part of an army or fleet which comes last, or is stationed behind the rest.
  • * (rfdate) Milton
  • When the fierce foe hung on our broken rear.
  • (anatomy) The buttocks, a creature's bottom
  • Synonyms
    * (buttocks) rear end

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To place in the rear; to secure the rear of.
  • (transitive, vulgar, British) To sodomize (perform anal sex)
  • Derived terms
    * rear admiral * rear echelon * rear end * rear front - (military), the rear rank of a body of troops when faced about and standing in that position. * rear guard * rearhorse * rear line - (military), the line in the rear of an army. * rearmost * rearmouse * rear rank - (military), the rank or line of a body of troops which is in the rear, or last in order. * rear sight - (firearms ), the sight nearest the breech. * rearward * bring up the rear - to come last or behind. * rearing bit - a bit designed to prevent a horse from lifting his head when rearing.

    Anagrams

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