Definition

Noun: 1. A small electro-acoustic transducer: A device that converts electrical signals into sound waves. It is designed to be worn on or placed inside the ear to allow a single listener to hear audio privately. 2. A personal listening device: A single unit, or one of a pair, used for listening to audio from devices like radios, music players, or telephones without disturbing others.

Examples

• Noun:
  • She put in her earphone to listen to the podcast.
  • One earphone stopped working, so he could only hear sound from the left side.
  • The call center operator wore a headset with a microphone and a single earphone.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Formal Context: In technical specifications, "earphone" refers specifically to the transducer element itself.
  • The device features a high-fidelity dynamic earphone.

Variants and Related Words

• Earphones (n, plural): The common term for a pair of these devices.
  • I can't find my wireless earphones.
• Headphone (n): A similar audio transducer, but typically part of a band worn over the head.
• Earpiece (n): A more general term that can mean an earphone, or the part of a device that is placed against the ear.
• In-ear monitor (n): A specialized type of earphone used by musicians and audio engineers.

Synonyms

• Earpiece
• Phone (archaic, as in "telephone receiver")

Related Phrases

• (A pair of) earphones: The standard way to refer to the complete set for both ears.
  • He bought a new pair of earphones.

Noun

1. electro-acoustic transducer for converting electric signals into sounds; it is held over or inserted into the ear
   • it was not the typing but the earphones that she disliked