Definition

A small device made of soft material that is placed in the ear to block sound or water.

Example

She wore earplugs to sleep in the noisy hotel room.

Conversation

I couldn't get to sleep last night because of the noise outside.

Have you thought about using earplugs? They really help block out sound.

That's a good idea! I should definitely try earplugs next time.

Yeah, they make a big difference, especially in a noisy neighborhood.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Earplug → It is formed from "ear" (from Old English "eare", meaning the organ of hearing) and "plug" (from Middle English "ploggen", meaning to stop or fill). The word "earplug" refers to an object used to stop or fill the ear to block out sound.

Memory Tip

Think of an object that 'fills' ('plug') the 'organ of hearing' ('ear') to block out noise.

Visually Confused Words