ciliary

adjective

cil·​i·​ary ˈsi-lē-ˌer-ē 

1

: of, relating to, or being the annular suspension of the lens of the eye

2

: of or relating to cilia

Examples of ciliary in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Perhaps seawater’s viscosity — which decreases as temperature increases, making the water thinner —affects ciliary movements, Shapiro said. — Marlowe Starling, Quanta Magazine, 5 Aug. 2026

This breaks the ciliary muscle spasm and allows the blink reflex to reset. — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 19 Feb. 2026

This hydrogel muscle changes the shape of a soft lens to alter the lens’s focal length, a mechanism analogous to the ciliary muscles in the human eye. — Corey Zheng, The Conversation, 22 Oct. 2025

Rather than significantly stimulating the ciliary muscle, VIZZ only affects the pupils while avoiding the other problems. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1691, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ciliary

• ciliary body

Rhymes for ciliary

• biliary
• miliary
• domiciliary
• mucociliary
• superciliary

Kids Definition

ciliary

adjective

cil·​i·​ary ˈsil-ē-ˌer-ē 

1

: of or relating to cilia

ciliary movement

2

: of, relating to, or being the muscular body supporting the lens of the eye

ciliary muscles

Medical Definition

ciliary

adjective

cil·​i·​ary ˈsil-ē-ˌer-ē 

1

: of or relating to cilia

ciliary movement

2

: of, relating to, or being the annular suspension of the lens of the eye

a ciliary arteriole

ciliary spasm