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Glite Dictionary
glue ear

glue ear

5.3
Thick sticky liquid builds up behind the eardrum and reduces hearing in children
  • noun
  • /ɡluː ɪr/
  • UK
translation icon : otitis media con efusión
  • My doctor explained that glue ear is often seen in young children who have frequent ear infections.

Examples

  • The condition known as glue ear occurs when thick fluid builds up behind the eardrum.

  • Persistent OME (glue ear) is a common cause of hearing loss in children.

    Academic text (2001)

  • Children with glue ear may find it hard to hear properly in class and require medical treatment.

Surface Forms

glue ear singular
glue ears plural

Morphology

glue + ear

The compound literally combines 'glue' (a sticky substance) and 'ear', so a learner who knows both words can infer there is sticky fluid in the ear causing problems. However, the term refers to a specific medical condition (middle-ear effusion) with clinical implications that are not fully predictable from the parts alone, so it is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Glue ear gets its name from the clear image of thick, sticky fluid like glue sitting in the middle of the ear. So the term describes a condition where this 'sticky fluid' stays 'behind the eardrum' and causes 'hearing problems'.