cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior see eye illustration

corneal

ˈkȯr-nē-əl 

adjective

Examples of cornea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Anyone with a functioning pair of corneas can see that the San Francisco 49ers are currently looking up at the Seattle Seahawks and the Los Angeles Rams in the NFC West pecking order. —Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 7 Mar. 2026

Your lenses and corneas may become thicker, and the eyeballs' pressure may change. —Erin Meanley, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026

This usually happens when the eyeball is slightly too short or when the cornea or lens does not bend light strongly enough. —Daryl Austin, USA Today, 17 Feb. 2026

Helps Preserve Vision The vitamin A in carrots plays a central role in maintaining the health of the cornea (the clear, outer sheet of the eye). —Mark Gurarie, Health, 31 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin (short for cornea tēla "horny web," cornea tunica "horny covering," translating Greek kerātoeidḕs chitṓn), from feminine of Latin corneus "horny" — more at corneous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and lets light through to the interior

corneal

-nē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior

corneal

-əl 

adjective