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¹eye

noun \ˈī\

: the part of the body that you see with

: an ability to understand and appreciate something seen

—used to describe the way something looks to you

Full Definition of EYE

a : a specialized light-sensitive sensory structure of animals that in nearly all vertebrates, most arthropods, and some mollusks is the image-forming organ of sight; especially : the nearly spherical usually paired hollow organ of sight in vertebrates that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a photosensitive retina, and is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull

b : all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

c (1) : the faculty of seeing with eyes (2) : the faculty of intellectual or aesthetic perception or appreciation <an eye for beauty> (3) : skill or ability dependent upon eyesight <a batter with a good eye>

d : look, glance <cast an eager eye>

e (1) : an attentive look <kept an eye on his valuables> (2) : attention, notice <caught his eye> (3) : close observation : scrutiny <works under the eye of her boss> <in the public eye>

f : point of view, judgment <beauty is in the eye of the beholder> —often used in plural <an offender in the eyes of the law>

: something having an appearance suggestive of an eye: as

a : the hole through the head of a needle

b : a usually circular marking (as on a peacock's tail)

c : loop; especially : a loop or catch to receive a hook

d : an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)

e : an area like a hole in the center of a tropical cyclone marked by only light winds or complete calm with no precipitation

f : the center of a flower especially when differently colored or marked; specifically : the disk of a composite

g (1) : a triangular piece of beef cut from between the top and bottom of a round (2) : the chief muscle of a chop (3) : a compact mass of muscular tissue usually embedded in fat in a rib or loin cut of meat

h : a device (as a photoelectric cell) that functions in a manner analogous to human vision

: something central : center <the eye of the problem — Norman Mailer>

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

— eye·less \ˈī-ləs\ adjective

— eye·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

— an eye for an eye

: retribution in kind

— my eye

—used to express mild disagreement or sometimes surprise <a diamond, my eye! That's glass>

— with an eye to also with an eye toward

: with awareness or contemplation of <with an eye to the future>

: with the object of <built the house with an eye to adding on later>

See eye defined for English-language learners

See eye defined for kids

Illustration of EYE

Origin of EYE

Middle English, from Old English ēage; akin to Old High German ouga eye, Latin oculus, Greek ōps eye, face, Sanskrit akṣi eye

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to EYE

Synonyms: band, circle, ¹ring, hoop, loop, round

Other Anatomy Terms

bilateral symmetry, carotid, cartilage, dorsal, entrails, prehensile, renal, solar plexus, supine, thoracic, ventral

²eye

verb

: to watch or look at (someone or something) in a very close or careful way

eyedeye·ing or ey·ing

Full Definition of EYE

transitive verb

a (1) : to fix the eyes on : look at <they eyed him suspiciously> (2) : contemplate, consider <eyeing the choices>

b : to watch or study closely <eyeing changes in the stock market>

: to furnish with an eye

intransitive verb

obsolete : seem, look

— ey·er \ˈī(-ə)r\ noun

See eye defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of EYE

15th century

Related to EYE

Synonyms: watch, follow, observe

EYE[1] Defined for Kids

¹eye

noun \ˈī\

Definition of EYE for Kids

: the organ of seeing that in vertebrates is a round organ filled with a jellylike material, is located in a bony cavity in the skull, and has a lens which focuses light on the retina

: the eye along with its surrounding parts (as the eyelids)

: the colored surface of the iris <He has blue eyes.>

: the ability to see <I have good eyes.>

: the ability to recognize or appreciate <He has a good eye for color.>

: ²glance <It caught my eye.>

: close attention : watch <Keep an eye on dinner.>

: judgment 1 <They are guilty in the eyes of the law.>

: something like or suggesting an eye <the eye of a needle>

: the center of something <the eye of a hurricane>

— eyed \ˈīd\ adjective

— eye·less \ˈī-ləs\ adjective

Headscratcher for EYE

Eye is the only body part that is spelled the same forwards and backwards.

²eye

verb

eyedeye·ing or ey·ing

Definition of EYE for Kids

: to look at : watch closely <They eyed the stranger suspiciously.>

Medical Dictionary

eye

noun \ˈī\

Medical Definition of EYE

: an organ of sight; especially : a nearly spherical hollow organ that is lined with a sensitive retina, is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull, is the vertebrate organ of sight, and is normally paired

: all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

: the faculty of seeing with eyes

—eye·less \ˈī-ləs\ adjective

—eye·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective