eye

1 of 2

noun

1
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
2
: something having an appearance suggestive of an eye: such 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 (such as a photoelectric cell) that functions in a manner analogous to human vision
3
: something central : center
the eye of the problemNorman Mailer
4
: the direction from which the wind is blowing
eyeless adjective
eyelike adjective

Illustration of eye

Illustration of eye
  • 1 optic nerve
  • 2 blind spot
  • 3 fovea
  • 4 sclera
  • 5 choroid
  • 6 retina
  • 7 ciliary body
  • 8 posterior chamber
  • 9 anterior chamber
  • 10 cornea
  • 11 lens
  • 12 iris
  • 13 suspensory ligament
  • 14 conjunctiva
  • 15 vitreous humor

eye

2 of 2

verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

transitive verb

1
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
2
: to furnish with an eye
eyer noun
Phrases
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 or less commonly with an eye toward
1
: with awareness or contemplation of
with an eye to the future
2
: with the object of
built the house with an eye to adding on later

Did you know?

The eye is an organ that receives light and visual images. Non-image forming eyes (also called direction eyes) are found among worms, mollusks, cnidarians, echinoderms, and other invertebrates. Image-forming eyes are found in certain mollusks, most arthropods, and nearly all vertebrates. Arthropods are unique in possessing a compound eye, which results in their seeing a multiple image that is partially integrated in the brain. Lower vertebrates, such as fish, have eyes on either side of the head, allowing a maximum view of the surroundings, but producing two separate fields of vision. In predatory birds and mammals, binocular vision is more important. The placement of both eyes on the front of the head permits a larger overlap of the two visual fields, resulting in a parallel line of direct sight.

Examples of eye in a Sentence

Noun Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark. He wears a patch over one eye. I have something in my eye. Only a trained eye can tell the difference between the original painting and a good copy. For decorating, they rely on her discerning eye. He has an artist's eye for color. He reviewed the proposal with a jaundiced eye. The biographer cast a cold eye on the artist's life. Verb I saw someone eyeing me from across the street. a lot of his backyard bird watching was spent eyeing the squirrels as they depleted the bird feeder of seeds
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Outdoor Voices District Vision Junya Sunglasses Those who workout outside know the importance of eye protection. Anna Tingley, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 An individual’s genes can carry recessive traits, such as blue eyes or red hair in humans, without appearing as a physical characteristic. Katie Hunt, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024 The screening is part of a monthly movie series, America Now, which looks at living in America through the eyes of different people. Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Mar. 2024 Her extended time out of the public eye led to conspiracy theories and rumors circulating online about her health and whereabouts, which came to a fever pitch when a photo that was shared to mark Mother's Day in the U.K. was pulled by agencies due to suspicions of manipulation. Stephanie Petit, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024 Choosing your most flattering shade of red hair will make your eyes pop more than ever before and your demeanor transform into its most confident counterpart. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 22 Mar. 2024 In addition to traffic concerns, school leaders say the event poses safety risks to students who might lack eclipse glasses and are therefore at risk of severe eye injuries. Nick Sullivan, The Arizona Republic, 22 Mar. 2024 He is blinded by the sun, but eventually his eyes adjust. Emma Green, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 Turns out, the Oppenheimer star, who is famously press shy, treats the event like any other awards ceremony—with a tasteful (and super stealthy) eye towards tailoring, which is always meant to seamlessly blend in, not stand out. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 11 Mar. 2024
Verb
In the fashion category, Lane is eyeing this cute shacket from Dokotoo that’s as little as $33. Isabel Garcia, Peoplemag, 23 Mar. 2024 Maybe in Johnson County, or on that land the Royals were eyeing for a ballpark in North Kansas City before committing to moving downtown. Mike Hendricks, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024 The bond market is eyeing the economy warily, bidding longer-term interest rates higher and effectively reversing many of the gains of late 2023. Jeff Sommer, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Meanwhile, Puck reports that Emily Weiss-founded Glossier, which has seen an uptick in business since CEO Kyle Leahy took over in 2022, is eyeing an exit. - Doubling down. Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, 20 Mar. 2024 The Federal Reserve is still eyeing three interest rate cuts this year, as officials wait for a bit more confidence that inflation is reliably falling to more normal levels. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 20 Mar. 2024 Coogler is eying a production date this spring in New Orleans. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2024 As both candidates try to consolidate support among their party bases, operatives and observers alike are eyeing any signs of division heading into November. Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2024 Approximately 584 residences are being eyed as part of the development, the Santa Clara city documents show. George Avalos, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eye.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of eye was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near eye

Cite this Entry

“Eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

eye

1 of 2 noun
1
a
: an organ of sight
especially : a rounded hollow organ that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a sensitive retina, and is located in a bone-lined cavity in the skull of a vertebrate
b
: all the visible parts (as the eyelids) within and surrounding the bone-lined cavity
2
a
: ability to see or appreciate
a good eye for painting
b
: glance entry 2 sense 3
cast an eager eye
c
: close attention or observation
keep an eye on it
d
: judgment sense 1
guilty in the eyes of the law
3
: something like or suggestive of an eye: as
a
: the hole through the head of a needle
b
: a loop to catch or receive a hook
c
: an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)
d
: a device (as a photoelectric cell) that functions somewhat like human vision
4
: the center of something
the eye of a hurricane
eyed
ˈīd
adjective
eyeless adjective
eyelike adjective

eye

2 of 2 verb
eyed; eyeing or eying
: to watch or study closely

Medical Definition

eye

noun
1
: 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
2
: all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows
3
: the faculty of seeing with eyes
eyeless adjective
eyelike adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on eye

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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