eye

noun

\ ˈī

Definition of eye

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : a specialized light-sensitive sensory structure of animals that in nearly all vertebrates, most arthropods, and some mollusks is the image-forming organ of sight especially : the nearly spherical usually paired hollow organ of sight in vertebrates that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a photosensitive retina, and is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull

b : all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

c(1) : the faculty of seeing with eyes

(2) : the faculty of intellectual or aesthetic perception or appreciation an eye for beauty

(3) : skill or ability dependent upon eyesight a batter with a good eye

d : look, glance cast an eager eye

e(1) : an attentive look kept an eye on his valuables

(2) : attention, notice caught his eye

(3) : close observation : scrutiny works under the eye of her boss in the public eye

f : point of view, judgment beauty is in the eye of the beholder —often used in plural an offender in the eyes of the law

2 : something having an appearance suggestive of an eye: such as

a : the hole through the head of a needle

b : a usually circular marking (as on a peacock's tail)

c : loop especially : a loop or catch to receive a hook

d : an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)

e : an area like a hole in the center of a tropical cyclone marked by only light winds or complete calm with no precipitation

f : the center of a flower especially when differently colored or marked specifically : the disk of a composite

g(1) : a triangular piece of beef cut from between the top and bottom of a round

(2) : the chief muscle of a chop

(3) : a compact mass of muscular tissue usually embedded in fat in a rib or loin cut of meat

h : a device (such as a photoelectric cell) that functions in a manner analogous to human vision

3 : something central : center the eye of the problem— Norman Mailer

4 : the direction from which the wind is blowing

an eye for an eye

: retribution in kind

my eye

—used to express mild disagreement or sometimes surprise a diamond, my eye! That's glass

with an eye to or less commonly with an eye toward

1 : with awareness or contemplation of with an eye to the future

2 : with the object of built the house with an eye to adding on later

eye

verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

Definition of eye (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1a(1) : to fix the eyes on : look at they eyed him suspiciously

(2) : contemplate, consider eyeing the choices

b : to watch or study closely eyeing changes in the stock market

2 : to furnish with an eye

intransitive verb

obsolete : seem, look

Other Words from eye Synonyms Did you know? More Example Sentences Phrases Containing eye Learn More About eye

Other Words from eye

Noun

eyeless \ ˈī-ləs

\ adjective

eyelike \ ˈī-ˌlīk

\ adjective

Verb

eyer \ ˈī(-ə)r

\ noun

Synonyms for eye

Synonyms: Noun

Synonyms: Verb

Did you know?

The eye is an organ that receives light and visual images. Non-image forming eyes (also called direction eyes) are found among worms, mollusks, cnidarians, echinoderms, and other invertebrates. Image-forming eyes are found in certain mollusks, most arthropods, and nearly all vertebrates. Arthropods are unique in possessing a compound eye, which results in their seeing a multiple image that is partially integrated in the brain. Lower vertebrates, such as fish, have eyes on either side of the head, allowing a maximum view of the surroundings, but producing two separate fields of vision. In predatory birds and mammals, binocular vision is more important. The placement of both eyes on the front of the head permits a larger overlap of the two visual fields, resulting in a parallel line of direct sight.

Examples of eye in a Sentence

Noun Her eyes slowly became accustomed to the dark. He wears a patch over one eye. I have something in my eye. Only a trained eye can tell the difference between the original painting and a good copy. For decorating, they rely on her discerning eye. He has an artist's eye for color. He reviewed the proposal with a jaundiced eye. The biographer cast a cold eye on the artist's life. Verb I saw someone eyeing me from across the street. a lot of his backyard bird watching was spent eyeing the squirrels as they depleted the bird feeder of seeds See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun With Jenny’s eye for design, and Dave’s handy craftsmanship and general contracting background, the couple has restored over 300 homes in their area. — Kelly Corbett, House Beautiful, 15 June 2022 But Billy Goat, who is a year and a half old, had a punctured eye and needed surgery at the shelter to remove it. — Janice Neumann, Chicago Tribune, 14 June 2022 Keep a watchful eye for branches, bushes, or shrubs that touch your house and can provide easy access for ants to make their way inside. — Maribeth Jones, Country Living, 14 June 2022 For: Fashionistas who keep up with the latest trends, love to shop, and have an eye for piecing together stylish outfits. — Nicol Natale, Woman's Day, 13 June 2022 Lange has a perceptive eye for how spaces are designed — and for whom. — Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2022 Whereas others might be drawn into false assertions about AI, the AI natives will have a wary eye. — Lance Eliot, Forbes, 12 June 2022 Readers weigh in, quietly, on the gun control debate, retailers are getting the stink eye for commercializing Juneteenth, and nobody’s quite sure if Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebration was racist or not. — Ellen Mcgirt, Fortune, 10 June 2022 Or Bill’s eye for casting Dave Franco, who hadn’t done anything yet, or Kerry Bishé. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 9 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Sunshine rules, for the most part, as high temperatures eye a range of low to mid-70s for most of the region. — Washington Post, 22 Apr. 2022 To the east, China continues to eye an invasion of Taiwan, which many U.S. officials predict is likely by 2027. — Roger Wicker, National Review, 18 Feb. 2022 These are major decisions for Key as England desperately eye a turnaround in what has been a rather feeble recent Test chapter. — Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 24 Apr. 2022 Key senators eye new, more ambitious legislation to lower insulin prices. — Nicholas Florko, STAT, 9 Apr. 2022 In the meantime, the rush to create SPACs has evaporated as investors eye a crowded field and regulators take a harder line. — Julia Horowitz, CNN, 1 Apr. 2022 At the conference, junior scholars would nervously eye one another in the elevators, trying to figure out who might be headed to which suite. — Jacob Brogan, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2022 While American oil and gas companies eye new opportunities in Europe, German lawmakers want to accelerate the transition to wind and solar. — Leah Garden, The New Republic, 11 Mar. 2022 Dedinkin tells us that the tag sale stopped just as Stalin’s money men began to eye the Morozov things. — Brian T. Allen, National Review, 3 Mar. 2022 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'eye.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries Near eye

Eyck, van

eye

eyeable

Statistics for eye

Last Updated

18 Jun 2022

Cite this Entry

“Eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye. Accessed 28 Jun. 2022.

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More Definitions for eye

eye

noun

\ ˈī

Kids Definition of eye

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the organ of seeing that in vertebrates is a round organ filled with a jellylike material, is located in a bony cavity in the skull, and has a lens which focuses light on the retina

2 : the eye along with its surrounding parts (as the eyelids)

3 : the colored surface of the iris He has blue eyes.

4 : the ability to see I have good eyes.

5 : the ability to recognize or appreciate He has a good eye for color.

6 : glance entry 2 It caught my eye.

7 : close attention : watch Keep an eye on dinner.

8 : judgment sense 1 They are guilty in the eyes of the law.

9 : something like or suggesting an eye the eye of a needle

10 : the center of something the eye of a hurricane

Other Words from eye

eyed \ ˈīd \ adjective

eyeless \ ˈī-ləs \ adjective

eye

verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

Kids Definition of eye (Entry 2 of 2)

: to look at : watch closely They eyed the stranger suspiciously.

eye

noun

\ ˈī

Medical Definition of eye

1 : an organ of sight especially : a nearly spherical hollow organ that is lined with a sensitive retina, is lodged in a bony orbit in the skull, is the vertebrate organ of sight, and is normally paired

2 : all the visible structures within and surrounding the orbit and including eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows

3 : the faculty of seeing with eyes

Other Words from eye

eyeless \ ˈī-ləs

\ adjective

eyelike \ -ˌlīk

\ adjective