Earmuffs are soft, padded coverings connected by a band that fits over your head, designed to keep your ears warm in cold weather. Each padded section, called a cup or muff, sits snugly over one ear while the band arches over the top of your head to hold them in place.

On a freezing winter day, when the cold air makes your ears ache, earmuffs trap warmth and protect them from the biting wind. Unlike a hat, which covers your whole head, earmuffs focus just on your ears. The padding is usually made of fleece, fur, or synthetic materials that insulate against the cold.

The word can also describe a different kind of ear protection: industrial earmuffs that workers wear to block out dangerously loud noise in factories, at construction sites, or on airport runways. These work by sealing around your ears to muffle sound.

People also use earmuffs as a playful way to describe blocking out information you don't want to hear. If your friend keeps spoiling the ending of your favorite book series, you might joke that you need earmuffs whenever they start talking about it.