Illustration of eye
- 1 optic nerve
- 2 blind spot
- 3 fovea
- 4 sclera
- 5 choroid
- 6 retina
- 7 ciliary body
- 8 posterior chamber
- 9 anterior chamber
- 10 cornea
- 11 lens
- 12 iris
- 13 suspensory ligament
- 14 conjunctiva
- 15 vitreous humor
1
a
: 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
f
: point of view, judgment
beauty is in the eye of the beholder
—often used in pluralan 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
Norman Mailer4
: the direction from which the wind is blowing
see also an eye for an eye, my eye, with an eye to
eyed; eyeing or eying
1
a(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
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
Recent Examples on the Web
Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Sharon is keeping an eye on the guy who got his diamonds ripped off in Act One, because her bosses don’t want to pay out.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Rumors of a second site being considered by DHS were confirmed when the leaders of Oakwood told outlets a property in their town was being eyed for a 1,500-bed detention center that would act as a processing facility for detainees before they are taken to Social Circle.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eye
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show current usage.
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Noun
But before the action alights in the location of the latest dispute between adjacent property owners to catch the eye of directors Harrison Fishman and Dylan Redford (yes, grandson of Robert), the shot fills with the telltale red, white and blue of the American flag.
—Alison Herman, Variety, 13 Feb. 2026
Sharon is keeping an eye on the guy who got his diamonds ripped off in Act One, because her bosses don’t want to pay out.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 13 Feb. 2026
Verb
On Saturday, World Curling’s concession to move two officials between the four sheets resulted in, at one point, one official watching the Canadians against Switzerland, with his back turned to US-Germany, and another eyeing up Sweden-China, with her back to Great Britain and the Czech Republic.
—Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 14 Feb. 2026
Rumors of a second site being considered by DHS were confirmed when the leaders of Oakwood told outlets a property in their town was being eyed for a 1,500-bed detention center that would act as a processing facility for detainees before they are taken to Social Circle.
—Irene Wright, USA Today, 13 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for eye
Video
When Body Parts Are Also Verbs
Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes
Cite this Entry
“Eye.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/eye. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
eye
1 of 2 noun1
a
: an organ of sight
especially
: a rounded hollow organ that is filled with a jellylike material, is lined with a sensitive retina, and is located in a bone-lined cavity in the skull of a vertebrate
b
: all the visible parts (as the eyelids) within and surrounding the bone-lined cavity
2
a
: ability to see or appreciate
a good eye for painting
b
: glance entry 2 sense 3
cast an eager eye
c
: close attention or observation
keep an eye on it
d
: judgment sense 1
guilty in the eyes of the law
3
: something like or suggestive of an eye: as
a
: the hole through the head of a needle
b
: a loop to catch or receive a hook
c
: an undeveloped bud (as on a potato)
d
: a device (as a photoelectric cell) that functions somewhat like human vision
4
: the center of something
the eye of a hurricane
eye
2 of 2 verb
eyed; eyeing or eying
: to watch or study closely
Medical Definition
eye
noun1
: 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
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