[ 'ɔ:r(ə)l ]
■ adjective relating to the ear or the sense of hearing.
Derivatives
~ly adverb
Origin
C19: from L. auris 'ear' + -al .
Usage
The words ~ and oral have the same pronunciation in standard English, which is sometimes a source of confusion. However, although a distinctive pronunciation for ~ has been proposed (the first syllable rhyming with cow ), it has not become standard.