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

After all, these predators inhabit deep, cold, dark waters — some as frigid as 30°F (-1.1°C) and as deep as 9,800 feet (3,000 meters) — and many have parasitic copepods attached to their corneas and sometimes even their butts. —Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

The vet took a look at the dog's cornea but said there was nothing wrong with Carol's eye thankfully. —Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025

Astigmatism is a common eye condition where the cornea (outermost eye layer) is irregular. —Carrie Madormo, Health, 30 May 2025

The cornea is that clear membrane covering the front surface of your eyeball, right over your iris and pupil. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025

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