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Glite Dictionary
earpiece

earpiece

28 3.3
A small device you put in or over the ear to hear sound from a phone
  • noun
  • /ˈɪrˌpiːs/
translation icon : auricular
  • The detective used an earpiece to communicate with his team during the operation.

And I will listen in with an earpiece to what they're doing.

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Examples

  • For that reason, Evon, again equipped with the infrared earpiece, was lurking right outside the chambers' door.

    Fiction book (1999)

  • Ramirez drives and we see that he has an earpiece which goes to a Walkman tape recorder.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • I want you to put this earpiece on, okay?

    Overcomer (2019)

  • I can just make out the blue earpiece in all that hair.

    Fiction book (1996)

  • Across the room, we see Henry listening, pushing an earpiece to his ear.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • And I will listen in with an earpiece to what they're doing.

    Matthew Hussey

  • We all have earpieces that can relay and receive information from A.D.A.M..

    Juarez 2045 (2017)

  • At the front table, a translator's words ring in the earpiece of a handsome man in his mid-forties.

    Fiction book (1997)

  • In less than a minute, he has installed a hot-pink left-side earpiece in place of the absent black one.

    Fiction book (1995)

  • They had black suits and black sunglasses and little earpieces, you know, and high tech stuff.

Synonyms

phone
vsearpiece
190 1.0

A pair of small speakers you wear on or in your ears to listen to sound

is smaller and intended for discreet listening rather than general wearing
headphone
vsearpiece
99 1.0

A device you wear on your head or in your ears to listen to music

is smaller and intended for discreet listening rather than larger over ear use
headset
vsearpiece
54 1.3

A pair of headphones you wear over your head with a microphone for listening and speaking

is smaller and meant for discreet listening rather than headworn use with a microphone
earphone
vsearpiece
19 3.2

A small device you put in or over your ear to listen to sound privately

is more focused on being hidden and discreet when listening
earbud
vsearpiece
12 2.7

A small headphone that fits inside the ear to listen privately

is more general in placement, fitting either over or in the ear
earplug
vsearpiece
1 3.0

A small earphone put into the ear to listen to music or phone calls

is worn over or in the ear rather than inserted deep into the canal

Antonyms

loudspeaker
41 2.2

A device that turns electric signals into sound to make music or speech louder

How Private

earbud
12 2.7
earpiece
28 3.3
headphone
99 1.0
speaker
175 1.5

Surface Forms

earpiece singular
earpieces plural

Morphology

earpiece = ear + piece (transparent) = ear + piece

The compound literally means a 'piece' (small object) for the ear, which is directly inferable from its components.

Etymology

Earpiece is made from ear and piece, literally a 'piece' for the ear. So an earpiece is a small object that fits in or over your ear to let you hear sound privately.