eyespot

noun

eye·​spot ˈī-ˌspät How to pronounce eyespot (audio)
1
: a usually small spot of color (as on the wing of a butterfly) that resembles an eye
2
a
: a simple visual organ of pigment or pigmented cells covering a sensory termination : ocellus
b
: a small pigmented body of various unicellular algae
3
: any of several fungal diseases of cultivated grasses (such as corn, wheat, and sugarcane) characterized by yellowish oval lesions on the leaves and stem

Examples of eyespot in a Sentence

a tie having eyespots of blue on a light gray background
Recent Examples on the Web Peacock butterflies are distinguished by a series of striking eyespots on their wings, which serve to threaten or confuse potential predators. Michael Franco, New Atlas, 21 Sep. 2024 But why did some lineages evolve shell eyes rather than eyespots? Quanta Magazine, 29 Feb. 2024 First, red eyespots appear; then the amorphous bodies coalesce and darken into their ferocious adult forms. Nala Rogers, Popular Mechanics, 9 Aug. 2023 Their long hindwing tails and eyespots combine to give them a look resembling an elephant’s face. Miri Talabac, Baltimore Sun, 18 July 2023 First, Rowland and her co-author trained chicks to attack a mealworm hidden behind a paper printout of two eyespots at the end of a runway. Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 1 Jan. 2023 Lacewings are among the first creatures known to have had eyespots. Jakob Vinther, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2017 Perhaps the most dramatic pattern to emerge during this time was the eyespot, a marking that resembles the eye of a different kind of animal and serves to startle predators approaching their prey at speed from a distance. Jakob Vinther, Scientific American, 1 Mar. 2017 Normally, the eyespot fades as the fish matures. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 23 Aug. 2013

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'eyespot.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1798, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of eyespot was in 1798

Dictionary Entries Near eyespot

Cite this Entry

“Eyespot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eyespot. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

eyespot

noun
eye·​spot -ˌspät How to pronounce eyespot (audio)
1
: a spot of color (as on the wing of a butterfly) that resembles an eye
2
a
: a simple organ for vision or the detection of light
b
: a small body in various single-celled algae that contains pigment

Medical Definition

eyespot

noun
eye·​spot ˈī-ˌspät How to pronounce eyespot (audio)
1
: a simple visual organ of pigment or pigmented cells covering a sensory termination : ocellus
2
: a small pigmented body of various unicellular algae

More from Merriam-Webster on eyespot

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