eared

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The word "eared" is an adjective that describes something that has ears or ear-like features. It can also refer to the condition of something that has been used so much that it looks worn out, especially when talking about pages in a book that have their corners turned down.

Basic Explanation:

1. Literal Meaning: When we say something is "eared," it means it has ears. This can refer to animals, like a dog or a rabbit, or even plants, like corn (which has "ears" of corn).
2. Figurative Meaning: "Eared" can also describe something that looks old and worn out, particularly when it comes to books. If a book has been read many times and the corners of its pages are turned down, we say it has "dog-eared" pages.

Usage Instructions:

• Use "eared" when you are describing something that literally has ears or when describing the condition of something that is well-used.
• Combine it with other words to specify the type of ears, such as "long-eared" (like a rabbit) or "dog-eared" (like a book).

Examples:

• Literal Example: "The long-eared rabbit hopped through the garden."
• Figurative Example: "This old book is dog-eared from years of being read."

Advanced Usage:

In literature, "eared" can be used to evoke imagery or describe characters with particular features. For example, one might write about a "sharp-eared detective" to indicate someone who listens carefully.

Word Variants:

1. Dog-eared: Specifically refers to pages in a book that have been folded down and look worn.
2. Long-eared: Describes animals with long ears, like certain species of rabbits or owls.

Different Meanings:

• In a more abstract sense, "eared" can imply attentiveness or the ability to listen, as in "sharp-eared," which describes someone who is very good at hearing things.

Synonyms:

• For the literal meaning: "eared" can have synonyms like "eared animal" (specific to the type of animal).
• For the figurative meaning: "worn," "shabby," or "weathered" can be used in similar contexts.

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While "eared" itself does not have specific idioms or phrasal verbs, it can be part of phrases like "dog-eared pages" or "long-eared animals."

Summary:

The word "eared" can refer to anything with ears or can describe something that looks worn out due to usage.

Academic

Adjective

1. having ears (or appendages resembling ears) or having ears of a specified kind; often used in combination
2. worn or shabby from overuse or (of pages) from having corners turned down
   • a somewhat dog-eared duke...a bit run down-Clifton Fadiman
   • an old book with dog-eared pages

Synonyms

• dog-eared