: an anterior ear-shaped pouch in each atrium of the human heart
2
: an angular or ear-shaped lobe, process, or appendage
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebThe World Cup, bless its enormous heart — which this year is missing Italian, American, Chilean and Dutch ventricles and auricles — can bring out the worst (acting, officiating) and best (quotes, actions) in people. Nick Canepa, sandiegouniontribune.com, 2 July 2018 The auricle collects those sound waves and funnels them into the ear canal, which then makes your eardrum vibrate, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Amber Brenza, SELF, 4 Feb. 2018 Another catheter, similarly connected, went into the right auricle. Lily Rothman, Time, 11 Dec. 2017 Humans do have weak vestigial muscles attached to the shell of the ear, called the auricle or pinna, as well as evidence of a vestigial nervous system, which could have functioned to orient the ears. C. Claiborne Ray, New York Times, 16 Jan. 2017
Word History
Etymology
Latin auricula, from diminutive of auris ear — more at ear