# earring

/ˈiɹɪŋ/ (US) · /ˈiəɹɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/earring
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. jewellery

noun · CEFR A2

a piece of jewellery that you wear on your ear.

For teachers: an ornament worn on the ear, typically attached through a piercing in the lobe.

- She bought a beautiful pair of silver earrings to wear to the wedding.
- The archaeologist discovered a single gold earring among the ruins, suggesting the site had once been a place of significant wealth.

### 2. metal manufacturing

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a small mistake in metal sheets where the edges become wavy during shaping.

For teachers: a manufacturing defect in which the edges of sheet metal form a wave pattern during the deep drawing process.

- The factory had to fix the machine because it was causing earring on the metal cups.
- Engineers monitored the production line closely to minimize earring, as the uneven edges required costly trimming before the final assembly.

## Examples

- She lost one silver earring at the party.
- He decided to get his ear pierced so he could wear the diamond earring his grandfather left him.
- The museum display featured a pair of intricate gold earrings recovered from an ancient burial site, demonstrating the sophisticated metalworking skills of the period.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.