auricular

American  

[aw-rik-yuh-ler] / ɔˈrɪk yə lər /

adjective

1. of or relating to the ear or to the sense of hearing; aural.

2. perceived by or addressed to the ear; made in private.

   an auricular confession.

3. dependent on hearing; understood or known by hearing.

   auricular evidence.

4. shaped like an ear; auriculate.

5. Anatomy. pertaining to an auricle of the heart.

6. Ornithology. pertaining to certain often modified feathers that cover and protect the opening of a bird's ear.

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noun

1. Ornithology. Usually auriculars. feathers that cover and protect the opening of a bird's ear.

auricular British  

/ ɔːˈrɪkjʊlə /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or received by the sense or organs of hearing; aural

2. shaped like an ear

3. of or relating to an auricle of the heart

4. (of feathers) occurring in tufts surrounding the ears of owls and similar birds

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noun

1. (usually plural) an auricular feather

Other Word Forms

• auricularly adverb
• interauricular adjective
• nonauricular adjective
• postauricular adjective
• preauricular adjective

Etymology

Origin of auricular

First recorded in 1535–45, auricular is from the Late Latin word auriculāris of, pertaining to the ear. See auricle, -ar ¹

Explanation

Something that's auricular has to do with ears or hearing. An auricular message might be one you whisper into your friend's ear. You can use auricular to describe things that are shaped like an ear, like an auricular shell on the beach or an auricular flower in a garden. Other things are auricular because they're heard or are otherwise related to ears. The auricular muscles, for example, are the ones around your ears. Things having to do with the (ear-shaped) auricles, or atriums, of the heart can also be described as auricular. The Latin root is auricula, or "ear."

Example Sentences

Problemas cardiovasculares, como cardiopatías, infartos y arritmias como la fibrilación auricular.

From New York Times • Sep. 5, 2023

A melodic line is sheltered by another line that outlines the harmonic spectrum, causing the melody to grow into something more oracular than auricular.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2016

This is located at the inferior end of a large, roughened area called the auricular surface of the ilium.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Murakami's got a new book out - will auricular delights be in store?

From The Guardian • Feb. 18, 2013

Head partly bare, auricular orifice covered with plumes.

From British Birds in their Haunts by Johns, Rev. C. A.