auricular infection

4.6

Germs cause an ear problem, often in the outer ear, that makes the ear painful and swollen

noun
/ɔːˈrɪkjələr ɪnˈfɛkʃən/

Specialized

: infección auricular

The doctor diagnosed her with an auricular infection after examining her ear pain.

Examples

Swimming in dirty water can increase the risk of developing an auricular infection.
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat an auricular infection, especially when it is caused by bacteria.
She was diagnosed with an auricular infection last week.
The doctor mentioned that an auricular infection can be painful.
Swimming in dirty water can increase the risk of developing an auricular infection.
The doctor diagnosed her with an auricular infection after examining her ear pain.
Antibiotics are often prescribed to treat an auricular infection, especially when it is caused by bacteria.

Synonyms

otitis

vsauricular infection

Specialized

3 7.9

Swelling or infection in the ear that causes pain

is an infection rather than general inflammation of the ear

otitis externa

vsauricular infection

Specialized

7.2

An infection or swelling of the outer part of the ear that causes pain, redness, and discharge

is an infection rather than only inflammation of the outer ear

Surface Forms

auricular infection singular

auricular infections plural

Morphology

auricular + infection

The compound meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'auricular' (pertaining to the ear) + 'infection' (illness caused by pathogens), so it denotes an infection of the ear. This formation follows standard adjective + noun composition and, despite 'auricular' being somewhat technical, a learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the intended medical sense.

Etymology

The noun auricular infection comes from auricular, a word that means 'ear', and infection, when germs make part of the body sick. So the phrase pictures germs causing trouble in the ear, which is why it means 'an infection of the ear'.