bear's-ear: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (Specialist/Botanical)Botanical/Literary
Quick answer
What does “bear's-ear” mean?
A perennial herbaceous plant (Primula auricula) with yellow flowers and rounded, hairy leaves.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A perennial herbaceous plant (Primula auricula) with yellow flowers and rounded, hairy leaves.
Primarily refers to the mountain plant Primula auricula. The name comes from the shape of the leaves, which are thought to resemble a bear's ear.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Identical in meaning but slightly more likely to be encountered in British gardening and botanical contexts. The term is rare in general American English.
Connotations
Evokes traditional cottage gardening (UK) or alpine/flora-specific contexts. Has a slightly quaint, old-fashioned feel.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both dialects. Usage is almost exclusively confined to horticulture, botany, or historical/regional texts.
Grammar
How to Use “bear's-ear” in a Sentence
The [adjective] bear's-ear grows in [location].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in botanical texts and papers describing alpine flora.
Everyday
Rare. Might be used by gardeners or in nature guides.
Technical
The standard common name for Primula auricula in horticultural and botanical classification.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bear's-ear”
Strong
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bear's-ear”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bear's-ear”
- Writing it as "bear ears" (without the apostrophe and hyphen) loses the specific compound noun status.
- Using it as a general descriptor instead of a proper name.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'bear's-ear' is a common name for the plant whose botanical name is Primula auricula. 'Auricula' is also used as a common name, especially in horticulture.
No. It is a fixed proper name for a specific plant. For a general shape, you would say 'ear-shaped' or 'auricular'.
The apostrophe-s ('s) indicates the possessive/genitive form ('the ear of a bear'). The hyphen links the two words into a single compound noun, which is the standard for many plant and animal names (e.g., cat's-tail, lamb's-ear).
No, it is a low-frequency, specialist term known mainly to gardeners, botanists, and wildflower enthusiasts.
A perennial herbaceous plant (Primula auricula) with yellow flowers and rounded, hairy leaves.
Bear's-ear is usually botanical/literary in register.
Bear's-ear: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbeəz ˌɪə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈberz ˌɪr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “N/A”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a friendly bear cupping its ear to listen, but its ear is actually a soft, furry leaf with a yellow flower growing from it.
Conceptual Metaphor
PLANT PARTS ARE ANIMAL BODY PARTS (The leaf shape is mapped onto the shape of a bear's ear).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'bear's-ear'?