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What is the difference between earwax and ear?

earwax | ear |

Earwax is a derived term of ear.


As nouns the difference between earwax and ear

is that earwax is a waxy substance secreted by the ear while ear is (countable) the organ of hearing, consisting of the pinna, auditory canal, eardrum, malleus, incus, stapes and cochlea or ear can be (countable) the fruiting body of a grain plant.

As a verb ear is

(humorous) to take in with the ears; to hear or ear can be to put forth ears in growing; to form ears, as grain does or ear can be (archaic) to plough.

earwax

English

(wikipedia earwax)

Alternative forms

* ear wax, ear-wax

Noun

(-)
  • A waxy substance secreted by the ear.

    • Synonyms

    * cerumen (technical ), wax

    Derived terms

    * earwax impaction

    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.

    Anagrams

    * (l), (l), (l), (l) 1000 English basic words English terms with multiple etymologies ----