eye

1 of 2

noun

ˈī 

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

d

: look, glance

cast an eager eye

e(1)

: an attentive look

kept an eye on his valuables

(2)

: attention, notice

caught his eye

(3)

: close observation : scrutiny

works under the eye of her boss

in the public eye

f

: point of view, judgment

beauty is in the eye of the beholder

—often used in plural

an 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

4

: the direction from which the wind is blowing

eyeless

ˈī-ləs 

adjective

eyelike

ˈī-ˌlīk 

adjective

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

eye

2 of 2

verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

transitive verb

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

intransitive verb

obsolete : seem, look

eyer

ˈī(-ə)r 

noun

Phrases

an eye for an eye

: retribution in kind

my eye

—used to express mild disagreement or sometimes surprise

a diamond, my eye! That's glass

with an eye to or less commonly with an eye toward

1

: with awareness or contemplation of

with an eye to the future

2

: with the object of

built the house with an eye to adding on later

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.

Synonyms

Noun

• band
• circle
• hoop
• loop
• ring
• round

Verb

• follow
• observe
• watch

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

Noun

Stroll through the glittering light tunnel and watch kids' eyes fill with wonder. —Lindsay Cohn, Travel + Leisure, 7 Dec. 2024

According to the star, Heller was insistent that the dog have blue eyes and red hair like Adams. —Lauren Huff, EW.com, 7 Dec. 2024

Verb

The Harry Potter series is likely to not even begin filming until 2026, eyeing a 2027 release date. —Paul Tassi, Forbes, 7 Dec. 2024

Some seemed camera shy, eyeing the person filming to get out of their space, while others sniffed the camera out of curiosity. —Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Old English ēage; akin to Old High German ouga eye, Latin oculus, Greek ōps eye, face, Sanskrit akṣi eye

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a(1)

Phrases Containing eye

• apple of one's eye
• as far as the eye can see
• a twinkle in one's eye
• beauty is in the eye of the beholder
• bird's-eye
• bird's-eye maple
• bird's-eye view
• black eye
• bring a tear to one's eye
• bring a tear to someone's eye
• bull's-eye
• bull's-eye window
• by eye
• cast/run one's eye over
• cat's-eye
• caught my eye
• compound eye
• cross-eye
• distant look in someone's eye
• dry eye
• eagle eye
• easy on the eye
• electric eye
• evil eye
• eye bank
• eye candy
• eye-catcher
• eye chart
• eye contact
• eye drops
• eye lens
• eye level
• eye lift
• eye-opener
• eye rhyme
• eye roll
• eye rolling
• eye shadow
• eye socket
• eye view
• fish-eye
• fish-eye lens
• give (someone) the eye
• glass eye
• goggle-eye
• good eye
• good/keen/sharp eye
• hand-eye coordination
• have an eye to/toward
• have/keep an/one's eye out for
• have/keep half an eye on
• have one's eye on
• hit the bull's-eye
• hook and eye
• in a pig's eye
• in one's mind's eye
• in the blink of an eye
• in the public eye
• in the twinkle/twinkling of an eye
• keen/sharp eye
• keep a close watch/eye
• keep an eagle eye on
• keep an eye on
• keep a sharp eye on
• keep a watchful eye on (someone or something)
• keep a weather eye on
• keep one's eye on the ball
• lazy eye
• lead the/one's eye to
• look (someone) in the eye
• mind's eye
• more than meets the eye
• never batted an eye
• not a dry eye in the house
• not bat an eye/eyelash
• offend the eye
• out of the corner of one's eye
• pink eye
• pop eye
• practiced eye
• private eye
• rapid eye movement
• rapid eye movement sleep
• red-eye
• rib eye
• rib eye steak
• roving eye
• run one's eye down
• screw eye
• see eye to eye
• sheep's eye
• shut-eye
• side eye
• stared death in the eye
• stare (someone) in the eye(s)
• stink eye
• the apple of someone's eye
• the evil eye
• tiger's-eye
• to someone's practiced eye
• to the eye
• turn a blind eye
• under the eye of
• under the watchful/vigilant eye of
• visible to the naked eye
• wandering eye
• weather eye
• with a critical eye
• with one's eye
• worm's-eye

Video

When Body Parts Are Also Verbs

Head, shoulders, metaphors, and toes

Kids Definition

eye

1 of 2 noun

ˈī 

1

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

eyed

ˈīd

adjective

eyeless

ˈī-ləs 

adjective

eyelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

eye

2 of 2 verb

eyed; eyeing or eying

: to watch or study closely

Medical Definition

eye

noun

ˈī 

1

: 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

eyeless

ˈī-ləs 

adjective

eyelike

-ˌlīk 

adjective