cloth-eared
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English
Etymology
From the fact that ears made of cloth (for example, belonging to a stuffed toy) cannot hear.
Pronunciation
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /ˌklɒθˈɪəd/
Audio (Southern England): (file) - (General American) IPA(key): /ˌklɔθˈɪ(ə)ɹd/
- Rhymes: -ɪə(ɹ)d
Adjective
cloth-eared (comparative more cloth-eared, superlative most cloth-eared) (British, dated, derogatory, informal)
- Not hearing clearly.
- Synonyms: deaf, hard of hearing
- Failing to pay attention.
- Synonym: inattentive
- Antonym: attentive
Related terms
Translations
not hearing clearly — see deaf
failing to pay attention — see inattentive
See also
References
- “cloth-eared”, in Cambridge English Dictionary, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire: Cambridge University Press, 1999–present.
- “cloth-eared”, in Collins English Dictionary.
- “cloth-eared, adj.” under “cloth, n.”, in OED Online
, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1891. - “cloth-eared, adj.”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
