external ear
C1Technical/Medical/Academic
Definition
Meaning
The outermost portion of the auditory system, comprising the pinna (auricle) and the ear canal, which collects and directs sound waves towards the eardrum.
In a metaphorical or design context, the visible, projecting part of any listening device or structure. Also used in anatomy and medical contexts to specify the part of the ear open to examination.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
This is a compound anatomical term. It functions as a singular, countable noun (e.g., 'the external ear'). It refers specifically to a physical structure and has no abstract senses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling conventions ('otitis externa') are identical as it's a Latin-derived medical term.
Connotations
Purely anatomical/medical; no regional connotative differences.
Frequency
Used with identical frequency in both medical and biological contexts in the UK and US.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the external ear (of a mammal/bird)an infection in the external earexamine the external earVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None. It is a literal anatomical term.”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Extremely rare; potentially in medical device marketing (e.g., 'devices for cleaning the external ear').
Academic
Common in biology, anatomy, physiology, and medical textbooks/papers.
Everyday
Uncommon. In everyday speech, people say 'outer ear' or refer to specific parts like 'ear canal'.
Technical
Standard term in medical diagnostics, audiology, otolaryngology, and veterinary medicine.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The specialist will external-ear-examine the patient. (Not a standard verb; no examples.)
American English
- The physician needed to debride the external ear. (Here 'external ear' is the object of the verb 'debride'.)
adverb
British English
- The sound was detected external-ear-ly. (Not a standard adverb; no examples.)
American English
- The device is placed external to the ear. ('External' is an adjective, not a derivation from 'external ear'.)
adjective
British English
- The external-ear anatomy is complex. (Compound adjective, hyphenated.)
American English
- She has an external ear infection. (Often unhyphenated when preceding a noun in US medical texts.)
Examples
By CEFR Level
- You can see your external ear in the mirror.
- The doctor looked inside my external ear with a light.
- Infections of the external ear, often called swimmer's ear, can be painful.
- The complex folds of the external ear, or pinna, help in localising the source of sounds.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the word 'EXTERNAL' on a sign pointing OUT of a building. The external ear is the OUTER part you can see and touch.
Conceptual Metaphor
The external ear is a SOUND COLLECTOR or FUNNEL, channeling external stimuli (sound) into the internal system.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque 'внешнее ухо' in non-technical contexts; 'наружное ухо' is the standard medical term.
- Do not confuse with 'external auditory canal' (наружный слуховой проход), which is a part of the external ear.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'external ear' in casual conversation sounds overly clinical. (Use 'outer ear').
- Treating it as an uncountable noun (e.g., 'He has problems with external ear'). It is countable: 'the external ear' or 'both external ears'.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a part of the external ear?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in standard anatomical and medical terminology, 'external ear' and 'outer ear' are synonyms. 'External ear' is the more formal term.
Its primary functions are to collect sound waves, funnel them down the ear canal to the eardrum, and assist in sound localization.
Yes, a common infection is otitis externa (swimmer's ear), which is an inflammation or infection of the ear canal and/or pinna.
Precision. The ear has three main parts: external, middle, and inner. Specifying 'external' pinpoints the location of a condition or the focus of discussion.