Definition

Noun: * The anatomical structure within the ear that is specialized for detecting sound waves and converting them into nerve signals that the brain interprets as sound.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:
  • The cochlea is the primary organ of hearing in mammals.
  • Damage to the delicate organ of hearing can result in permanent hearing loss.
  • The study focused on how the organ of hearing develops in human embryos.

Advanced Usage

• "The organ of hearing" is a formal, biological term. In everyday language, people more commonly refer to specific parts like the "inner ear" or the "cochlea."
  • The virus can sometimes affect the organ of hearing, leading to sudden deafness.

Variants and Related Words

• Auditory organ (n): A direct synonym for organ of hearing.
  • Bats have highly sensitive auditory organs for echolocation.
• Ear (n): The general term for the entire structure, of which the organ of hearing is a key part.
• Cochlea (n): The spiral-shaped, fluid-filled part of the inner ear that is the core component of the organ of hearing.

Synonyms

• Auditory apparatus: Emphasizes the mechanical and structural aspects of the sound-detecting system.
• Sound receptor: A functional term describing its role in receiving sound stimuli.

Related Phrases

• Sense organ for hearing: A descriptive phrase that categorizes it alongside other sense organs like the eye (for sight) or the nose (for smell).
  • Like the eye is to sight, the cochlea is the crucial sense organ for hearing.

Noun

1. the part of the ear that is responsible for sensations of sound