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
The great argus is an at-risk species with an elaborate pattern of eyespots on its tail feathers, according to Thai National Parks.
—
Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
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
The 30-centimeter-long adult grows out of a larva that is little more than a sesame seed–size blob with an eyespot at one end and a band of cilia around its body.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 17 Jan. 2023
The eyespot is studded with light-sensitive proteins called channelrhodopsins.
—Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2021
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Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 14 May 2025
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
The 30-centimeter-long adult grows out of a larva that is little more than a sesame seed–size blob with an eyespot at one end and a band of cilia around its body.
—Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 17 Jan. 2023
The eyespot is studded with light-sensitive proteins called channelrhodopsins.
—Marc Zimmer, The Conversation, 5 Aug. 2021
Cite this Entry
“Eyespot.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eyespot. Accessed 26 May. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eyespot
noun
eye·spot
-ˌspät 
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
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