optic

1 of 2

adjective

op·​tic ˈäp-tik 

: of or relating to vision or the eye

optic

2 of 2

noun

1

: eye

2

a

: any of the elements (such as lenses, mirrors, or light guides) of an optical instrument or system

—usually used in plural

b

: an optical instrument

Synonyms

Adjective

• optical

Examples of optic in a Sentence

Adjective

the optic nerve

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Scott Summers, the leader of the X-Men team from Marvel comics who's capable of firing optic blasts, in 2000's X-Men. —EW.com, 7 Aug. 2025

The diagnosis was optic atrophy, which meant no blood flow was reaching the nerve. —Ashley Vega, People.com, 7 July 2025

Noun

Deeper questions were asked about Western creatives being entrusted with a historical story about the Middle East, while buyers raised concerns about the movie’s optics after the October 7 attack on Israel. —Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Sep. 2025

The best smart telescopes offer a powerful remedy to this problem in the form of advanced image stacking and real-time processing to filter out artificial light interference and reveal detail in objects that would be difficult to observe with the naked eye or traditional optics. —Harry Bennett, Space.com, 11 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin opticus, from Greek optikos, from opsesthai to be going to see; akin to Greek opsis appearance, ōps eye — more at eye

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1601, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing optic

• electro-optic
• fiber-optic
• magneto-optic
• optic axis
• optic chiasma
• optic cup
• optic disc
• optic lobe
• optic nerve
• optic vesicle

Rhymes for optic

• coptic
• preoptic
• synoptic
• supraoptic

Kids Definition

optic

adjective

op·​tic

ˈäp-tik

: of or relating to vision or the eye

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English optic "relating to the eye," from Latin opticus (same meaning), from Greek optikos (same meaning), from opsesthai "to be going to see" — related to autopsy

Medical Definition

optic

1 of 2 adjective

op·​tic ˈäp-tik 

1

a

: of or relating to vision

optic phenomena

b

: dependent chiefly on vision for orientation

humans are basically optic animals

2

a

: of or relating to the eye : ocular

b

: affecting the eye or an optic structure

optic

2 of 2 noun

1

: any of the elements (as lenses, mirrors, or light guides) of an optical instrument or system

—usually used in plural

2

: an optical instrument