/ɪə(r) ||; ɪr/noun1 [C] one of the two parts of the body of a person or animal that are used for hearing 耳;耳朵 ☞picture on page C1 and body 见C1页及body插图
2 [sing] an ear (for sth) an ability to recognize and repeat sounds, especially in music or language 听力,辨音力,鉴赏力(尤指对音乐或语言): Yuka has a good ear for languages. 尤卡在语言方面的听力很强。
3 [C] the top part of a plant that produces grain 穗: an ear of corn 玉米穗 ☞picture at cereal 见cereal插图
sb's ears are burning used when a person thinks that other people are talking about him/her, especially in an unkind way (表示被人在背后议论,尤指说不客气的话)某人耳朵发烧
play (sth) by ear to play a piece of music that you have heard without using written notes 不看乐谱奏出所听见过的音乐:
She can read music, but she can also play by ear. 她会看乐谱,但也可以凭记忆演奏。 go in one ear and out the other (used about information, etc) to be forgotten quickly (指信息等)左耳进右耳出,很快忘记:
Everything I tell him seems to go in one ear and out the other. 无论我对他说什么,他好像总是当作耳边风。 play it by ear to decide what to do as things happen, instead of planning in advance 见机行事:
We don't know what Alan's reaction will be, so we'll just have to play it by ear. 我们不知道艾伦会有什么反应,所以我们只好见机行事。 prick up your ears→
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