English Reference
noun

headphone

n.
US /ˈhɛdˌfoʊn/ UK /hˈɛdfəʊn/ head·phone

  1. 01 A2 Elementary

    one of a pair of small speakers you wear on or in your ear to listen to audio.

    an individual electroacoustic transducer designed to be held against or inserted into the ear; usually encountered as one half of a pair.

    Simple

    He took off one headphone so he could hear what his friend was saying.

    In context

    The left headphone began to crackle, suggesting a loose connection in the internal wiring of the headset.

    Pitfall
    I bought a new headphone yesterday. I bought a new pair of headphones yesterday.

    Like 'glasses' or 'scissors', we usually use the plural 'headphones' or the phrase 'a pair of headphones' even for one device.

    earphoneearbud
  2. 02 B1 Intermediate Technical Computing

    used to describe things made for or used with headphones.

    used attributively to describe components, sockets, or accessories specifically designed for use with headphones.

    Simple

    The phone doesn't have a headphone jack, so I need an adapter.

    In context

    The amplifier features a dedicated headphone output stage to ensure high-fidelity sound even when using high-impedance studio monitors.

    Usage

    In this sense, the word is used as a modifier before another noun.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated