Nearby Words

earful

[eer-fool] Origin

ear·ful

[eer-fool]
noun, plural -fuls.
1.
an outpouring of oral information or advice, especially when given without solicitation.
2.
a sharp verbal rebuke; a scolding.

Origin:
1915–20; ear1 + -ful


See -ful.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Earful is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
a fool or simpleton; ninny.
Collins
World English Dictionary
earful (ˈɪəfʊl)
 
n
1.  something heard or overheard
2.  a rebuke or scolding, esp a lengthy or severe one

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

earful
"a piece of one's mind," 1917, from ear (1) + -ful.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Slang Dictionary

earful definition

[ˈirfʊl]
  1. n.
    a tremendous amount of gossip. : I can give you an earful about the mayor.
  2. n.
    a scolding. : Her mother gave her an earful when she finally got home.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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