lobe: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Technical, formal, and academic in anatomical/biological contexts; neutral in general use for 'earlobe'.
Quick answer
What does “lobe” mean?
a rounded, projecting part of an organ or structure, often found in pairs or multiples, such as the rounded part of the ear or a section of the brain, liver, or lung.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
a rounded, projecting part of an organ or structure, often found in pairs or multiples, such as the rounded part of the ear or a section of the brain, liver, or lung.
Any rounded, floppy, or projecting part; can refer to a segment of a leaf (in botany), a part of a jellyfish's bell, or, metaphorically, a region or division of something (e.g., a lobe of an audience).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Spelling and usage are identical. The term 'earlobe' is slightly more commonly written as one word in AmE ('earlobe') and sometimes as two in BrE ('ear lobe'), but both forms are accepted in both varieties.
Connotations
Identical. Neutral/technical.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English due to higher prevalence of medical/biological discourse in popular media, but this is a marginal difference.
Grammar
How to Use “lobe” in a Sentence
lobe of + [ORGAN] (e.g., lobe of the brain)adjective + lobe (e.g., frontal lobe)verb + lobe (e.g., pierce the lobe)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “lobe” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Lobing' is a technical term in audio engineering, not derived from 'lobe' as a body part.
American English
- 'Lobing' is a technical term in audio engineering, not derived from 'lobe' as a body part.
adjective
British English
- The lobed leaf of the oak is distinctive.
- She has beautifully lobed ears.
American English
- The lobed leaf of the maple is distinctive.
- He preferred lobed pumpkins for carving.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually unused.
Academic
Central term in neuroscience, anatomy, biology, and medicine (e.g., 'The study focused on the frontal lobe's executive functions').
Everyday
Almost exclusively in 'earlobe' (e.g., 'She wore studs in her earlobes').
Technical
Precise descriptor for anatomical sections (brain, lung, liver, leaf morphology in botany).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “lobe”
- Misspelling as 'lode' or 'load'. Incorrect pluralisation ('lobes' is correct). Using 'lobe' to refer to any part, not specifically a rounded, projecting one.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Both 'earlobe' (one word) and 'ear lobe' (two words) are acceptable, with 'earlobe' being more common in modern usage, especially in American English.
Yes, but it's often a technical or metaphorical extension. In botany, leaves can be lobed. In acoustics, 'lobing' refers to sound radiation patterns. Metaphorically, it can describe segments of an audience or cloud formations.
A 'lobule' is a small lobe. For example, the liver has major lobes, which are themselves composed of many smaller lobules.
It is a high-frequency word within medical, biological, and academic contexts. In everyday conversation, it is low-frequency outside the specific compound 'earlobe'.
a rounded, projecting part of an organ or structure, often found in pairs or multiples, such as the rounded part of the ear or a section of the brain, liver, or lung.
Lobe is usually technical, formal, and academic in anatomical/biological contexts; neutral in general use for 'earlobe'. in register.
Lobe: in British English it is pronounced /ləʊb/, and in American English it is pronounced /loʊb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Don't let it go in one ear and out the other (involves the ear, but not the lobe specifically). No common idiom specifically with 'lobe'.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a globe. A LOBE is like a rounded, floppy part hanging off the side of something, just as a globe is round. Your EARLOBE hangs down like a tiny, soft globe.
Conceptual Metaphor
ROUNDED, PROTRUDING PARTS ARE LOBES (e.g., lobes of a cloud formation, lobes of an audience in a theatre).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these contexts is the word 'lobe' LEAST likely to be used correctly?