Definition

A thin, oval-shaped membrane in the ear that helps to transmit sound vibrations from the outer ear to the middle ear.

Example

The doctor examined her eardrum to check for any signs of infection.

Conversation

I think I might have hurt my eardrum when I went swimming.

Oh no, that sounds painful! How did that happen?

I accidentally dove in too deep and felt a weird pressure.

Yikes! You should definitely get that checked out.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

**Eardrum** → The word 'eardrum' is formed from 'ear' (from Old English *eare*, meaning the organ of hearing) and 'drum' (from Middle Dutch *tromme*, meaning a membrane or drum). The term 'eardrum' refers to the membrane in the ear that vibrates to sound waves, thus playing a crucial role in hearing.

Memory Tip

Think of the 'ear' as the organ that hears and 'drum' as a membrane that vibrates — together, they form the 'eardrum', which is essential for hearing.

Visually Confused Words