optic

CEFRB2

/ˈɒp.tɪk/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Related to the eyes or sense of sight.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Of, or relating to the eye or to vision.

Examples

  • Extragalactic stars can only be observed with optic instruments.

  • Methanol can damage the optic nerve.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
5

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meaning

  1. Of, or relating to optics or optical instruments.

noun

Extra meanings

  1. A lens or other part of an optical instrument that interacts with light.

  2. A measuring device with a small window, attached to an upside-down bottle, used to dispense alcoholic drinks in a bar.

More examples

In context

  • The difference is as great between / The optics seeing, as the object seen.

  • The moon, whose orb / Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views.

  • They were neatly lined up on three shelves between the optics of martini, vodka, whisky and gin.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank nerve carries visual signals from the eye to the brain.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

Borrowed from Middle French optique or Medieval Latin opticus, from Ancient Greek ὀπτῐκός (optĭkós, “of or for sight”), from ὀπτός (optós, “visible”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, “-ic”, adjectival suffix).