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oculus

noun

oc·​u·​lus ˈä-kyə-ləs How to pronounce oculus (audio)
plural oculi ˈä-kyə-ˌlī How to pronounce oculus (audio)
-ˌlē
1
: a circular or oval window
2
: a circular opening at the top of a dome

Examples of oculus 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.
Further up again, apartments will occupy the higher section, arranged around a central courtyard with an oculus looking down into the arena. New Atlas, 11 Nov. 2025 Three levels down, visitors can peer all the way up through the saltwater and the flotilla of fish thanks to a huge oculus — a 31-foot-wide angled porthole — at the tank’s bottom. Miami Herald, 18 Sep. 2025 Natural light shines from the oculus of American architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic spiral building. Jacoba Urist, Smithsonian Magazine, 3 June 2025 Our favorite was the James Turrell installation set into the hillside, with an oculus that brings the sky seemingly within reach. Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 15 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for oculus

Word History

Etymology

Latin, literally, eye — more at eye

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oculus was in 1848

Cite this Entry

“Oculus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oculus. Accessed 2 Dec. 2025.

Medical Definition

oculus

noun
oc·​u·​lus ˈäk-yə-ləs How to pronounce oculus (audio)
plural oculi -yə-ˌlī How to pronounce oculus (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on oculus

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