Main Entry: fo·vea

Pronunciation: \ˈfō-vē-ə\

Function: noun

Inflected Form(s): plural fo·ve·ae \-vē-ˌē, -vē-ˌī\

Etymology: New Latin, from Latin, pit

Date: 1849

1 : a small fossa
2 : a small rodless area of the retina that affords acute vision — see eye illustration

— fo·ve·al \-vē-əl\ adjective

— fo·ve·ate \-vē-ˌāt, -ət\ adjective