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Glite Dictionary
internal ear

internal ear

4.3
The part of the ear inside the head that helps you hear and keep balance
  • noun
  • /ɪnˈtɜrnəl ɪr/
  • Specialized
translation icon : oído interno
  • The doctor explained that damage to the internal ear can lead to hearing loss and dizziness.

Examples

  • The only way that tinnitus, even if caused by a ruined inner ear or internal ear nerves, could potentially be compared to a missing limb is if the inner ear was truly... well... um... missing!

    Blog text (34)

  • Many mammals, including humans, rely on their internal ear for balance while walking.

  • The internal ear contains structures essential for both hearing and equilibrium.

Synonyms

inner ear
vsinternal ear
  • Specialized
14 4.1

The part inside the ear that helps you hear and keep balance

is the exact same meaning but uses a different wording
labyrinth
vsinternal ear
  • Specialized
1 8.4

Small connected spaces in the inner ear that help a person hear and keep balance

refers to the entire innermost part rather than only the cavity system

Surface Forms

internal ear singular
internal ears plural

Morphology

internal + ear

The meaning is directly and compositionally derived from 'internal' (located within) + 'ear' (the hearing/balance organ), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to the inner part of the ear. This type of locative noun phrase is cross-linguistically common (e.g., 'inner ear' equivalents in many languages) and follows straightforward English compounding, making it accessible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Internal ear names the inner part of the ear hidden inside the skull; the word internal means 'inside' and ear is the part for sound. Think of it as a tiny protected room with a spiral 'snail' and small tubes that send sound to the brain and help keep you steady, so it means the part that controls 'hearing' and 'balance'.