aurĭcŭla (or ōrĭcŭla, Trog. ap. Plin. 11, 52, 114, § 276; Balliol MS. Cic. ad Q. Fr. 2, 15 (Ellis ad Cat. 25, 2); cf. Fest. s. v. orata, p. 183 Müll.; cf. aurum init.), ae, f. dim. [auris].
I The external ear , the ear-lap : sine te prendam auriculis, sine dem suavium, Plaut. Poen. 1, 2, 163: Praehende auriculis, id. As. 3, 3, 78: auriculam fortasse mordicus abstulisset, Cic. ad Q. Fr. 3, 4: rubentes, Suet. Aug. 69: fractae, Plin. 20, 9, 40, § 103; Vulg. Matt. 26, 51; ib. Marc. 14, 47; ib. Joan. 18, 26.—On account of its softness, prov.: auriculā infimā mollior, softer than the earlap , Cic. ad Q. Fr. 2, 15.—
II In gen., the ear : ut omne Humanum genus est avidum nimis auricularum, have too itching ears , Lucr. 4, 594; Auct. ad Her. 4, 10; Hor. Ep. 1, 8, 16; 1, 2, 53; id. S. 1, 9, 20; 1, 9, 77; 2, 5, 33; Pers. 2, 30; Vulg. 1 Reg. 9, 15; ib. 2 Par. 17, 25.