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Definition 2024


play_by_ear

play by ear

English

Verb

play by ear

  1. (transitive and intransitive, of music) To play guided by one's memory of the sound or in imitation of other performers, rather than from a written score.
  2. (transitive and intransitive, idiomatic) To do by guessing, intuition, or trial and error; to react to events as they occur.
    If they ask for something we didn't prepare, we will have to play it by ear.

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