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A.Word.A.Day--auricle

This week's theme: Uncommon homophones of common words

auricle (OR-i-kuhl) noun

1. The outer projecting part of the ear; also known as pinna.
2. An ear-shaped part of each atrium of the heart.

[From Latin auricula (little ear), from auris (ear). Ultimately from Indo-European root ous-/aus- (ear) that's also the ancestor of such words as ear, aural, scout (literally, act of listening or spying).]

"Smith even wrapped rubber bands around his ears to mimic Shrek's oddly shaped auricles."
Emily Aronson; Halloween Haven; Portsmouth Herald News (New Hampshire); Nov 1, 2005.

See more usage examples of auricle in Vocabulary.com's dictionary.

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