optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl 
1
: of or relating to the science of optics
2
a
: of or relating to vision : visual
b
: visible sense 1
optical wavelength
c
: of, relating to, or being objects that emit light in the visible range of frequencies
an optical galaxy
d
: using the properties of light to aid vision
an optical instrument
3
a
: of, relating to, or utilizing light especially instead of other forms of energy
optical microscopy
b
: involving the use of light-sensitive devices to acquire information for a computer
optical character recognition
4
: of or relating to optical art
Examples of optical in a Sentence
The company manufactures microscopes, telescopes, and other optical instruments.
an optical illusion that fools most people
Recent Examples on the Web
Image: Canon Using a standard Canon RF mount, the new lens has stereoscopic elements aligned in a straight optical path, resulting in its front lenses being positioned just 11.8mm apart compared to the 60mm gap between the dual-fisheye lenses on Canon’s existing 3D lenses.
—
Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024
Elsewhere are an optical digital audio output, a 3.5mm audio out, a USB media reader port, a 2.5A USB power out, and even a couple of system integration ports in the shape of an RS-232 socket and a 12V trigger.
—John Archer, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Actually Practical Magic Conjuring up a life partner whose salary is that of a K-pop star, who can prepare pancake batter (and not from a box), who does not have any optical abnormalities as your health insurance doesn’t cover vision, and who can parallel park.
—Anna Pook, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2024
The painting’s surface appears squishy, dissolving from a static plane into an optical cloud.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical 
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Andrew Liszewski, The Verge, 30 Oct. 2024
Elsewhere are an optical digital audio output, a 3.5mm audio out, a USB media reader port, a 2.5A USB power out, and even a couple of system integration ports in the shape of an RS-232 socket and a 12V trigger.
—John Archer, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
Actually Practical Magic Conjuring up a life partner whose salary is that of a K-pop star, who can prepare pancake batter (and not from a box), who does not have any optical abnormalities as your health insurance doesn’t cover vision, and who can parallel park.
—Anna Pook, The New Yorker, 29 Oct. 2024
The painting’s surface appears squishy, dissolving from a static plane into an optical cloud.
—Christopher Knight, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for optical
Dictionary Entries Near optical
Cite this Entry
“Optical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/optical. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
1
: relating to optics
2
: of or relating to vision
3
a
: of, relating to, or using light
an optical telescope
b
: involving the use of a device that senses light to acquire information for a computer
an optical scanner
Medical Definition
optical
adjective
op·ti·cal
ˈäp-ti-kəl
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