cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: 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 adjective

Examples of cornea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 Corneal nerves are located in the cornea, the transparent part of the front of your eye. Sarah Hudgens, Health, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for cornea

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornea was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cornea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornea. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

cornea

noun
cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and lets light through to the interior
corneal adjective

Medical Definition

cornea

noun
cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior
corneal adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cornea

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