Vocabulary     

What does eye mean?

Definitions for eye
aɪeye

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word eye.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. eye, oculus, opticnoun

    the organ of sight

  2. eyenoun

    good discernment (either visually or as if visually)

    "she has an eye for fresh talent"; "he has an artist's eye"

  3. eyenoun

    attention to what is seen

    "he tried to catch her eye"

  4. center, centre, middle, heart, eyenoun

    an area that is approximately central within some larger region

    "it is in the center of town"; "they ran forward into the heart of the struggle"; "they were in the eye of the storm"

  5. eyeverb

    a small hole or loop (as in a needle)

    "the thread wouldn't go through the eye"

  6. eye, eyeballverb

    look at

Wiktionary

  1. eyenoun

    An organ that is sensitive to light, which it converts to electrical signals passed to the brain, by which means animals see.

  2. eyenoun

    The visual sense.

    The car was quite pleasing to the eye, but impractical.

  3. eyenoun

    Attention, notice.

    That dress caught her eye.

  4. eyenoun

    The ability to notice what others might miss.

    He has an eye for talent.

  5. eyenoun

    A meaningful stare or look.

  6. eyenoun

    A private eye: a privately hired detective or investigator.

  7. eyenoun

    A hole at the blunt end of a needle through which thread is passed.

  8. eyenoun

    A fitting consisting of a loop of metal or other material, suitable for receiving a hook or the passage of a cord or line.

  9. eyenoun

    The relatively clear and calm center of a hurricane or other such storm.

  10. eyeverb

    To observe carefully.

  11. eyeverb

    To view something narrowly, as a document or a phrase in a document.

  12. eyeverb

    To look at someone or something as if with the intent to do something with that person or thing.

  13. eyenoun

    A mark on an animal, such as a peacock or butterfly, resembling a human eye.

  14. eyenoun

    The dark spot on a black-eyed pea.

  15. eyenoun

    A reproductive bud in a potato.

  16. eyenoun

    The dark brown center of a black-eyed Susan flower.

  17. Eyenoun

    the comedic magazine Private Eye.

  18. Eyenoun

    The London Eye, a tourist attraction in London.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. EYEnoun

    obsolete plural eyne, now eyes.

    Etymology: auga, Gothick; eag , Saxon; oog, Dutch; ee, Scottish, plur. eene.

    Good sir John, as you have one eye upon my follies, turn another into the register of your own, that I may pass with a reproof off the easier. William Shakespeare, Merry Wives of Windsor.

    My face is but a moon, and clouded too.
    —— Blessed are clouds to do as such clouds do:
    Vouchsafe, bright moon, and these thy stars to shine,
    Those clouds remov’d, upon our watry eyne. William Shakespeare.

    Nor doth the eye itself,
    That most pure spirit of sense, behold itself,
    Not going from itself; but eyes oppos’d,
    Salute each other with each other’s form. William Shakespeare, Troil. and Cress.

    He kept him as the apple of his eye. Deutr. xxxii. 10.

    As long looking against the sun or fire hurteth the eye by dilatation; so curious printing in small volumes, and reading of small letters, do hurt the eye by contraction. Francis Bacon.

    His awful presence did the crowd surprize,
    Nor durst the rash spectator meet his eyes;
    Eyes that confess’d him born for kingly sway,
    So fierce, they flash’d intolerable day. John Dryden, Knight’s Tale.

    But sure the eye of time beholds no name
    So blest as thine in all the rolls of fame. Alexander Pope, Odyssey.

    Who hath bewitched you, that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth? Gal. iii. 1.

    I’ll say yon grey is not the morning’s eye.
    ’Tis but the pale reflex of Cynthia’s brow. William Shakespeare, Rom. and Jul.

    To justify this worthy nobleman,
    Her shall you hear disproved to your eyes. William Shakespeare, Measure for Measure.

    Now pass’d, on either side they nimbly tack,
    Both strive to intercept and guide the wind;
    And in its eye more closely they come back,
    To finish all the deaths they left behind. John Dryden, Ann. Mirab.

    Having an eye to a number of rites and orders in the church of England, as marrying with a ring, &c. sundry church-offices, dignities and callings, for which they found no commandment in the holy Scripture, they thought by the one only stroke of an axiom to have cut them off. Richard Hooker, b. iii. s. 4.

    As in Scripture a number of laws, particular and positive, being in force, may not by any law of man be violated; we are, in making laws, to have thereunto an especial eye. Richard Hooker.

    The man that is tender among you, and very delicate, his eyes shall be evil towards his brother. Deutr. xxviii. 54.

    He that hath a bountiful eye shall be blessed. Prov. xxii. 9.

    None should be put into either of those commissions, with an eye of favour to their persons, to give them countenance or reputation in the places where they live. Francis Bacon, to Villiers.

    Winds and hurricanes at land, tempests and storms at sea, have always been looked upon with as evil an eye as earthquakes. John Woodward, Natural History.

    In this disposal of my sister, I have had an eye to her being a wit, and provided that the bridegroom be a man of sound judgment. Tatler, №. 75.

    Booksellers mention with respect the authors they have printed, and consequently have an eye to their own advantage. Joseph Addison, Spectator, №. 92.

    Not satisfied with our oath, he appointed a band of horsemen to have an eye that we should not go beyond appointed limits. Philip Sidney, b. ii.

    Lawmakers must have an eye to the place where, and to the men amongst whom. Richard Hooker, b. i. s. 10.

    His majesty hath cast his eyes upon you, as finding you to be such as you should be, or hoping to make you to be such as he would have you to be. Francis Bacon.

    If the English had driven the Irish into the plains and open countries, where they might have an eye and observation upon them, the Irish had been easily kept in order. John Davies, on Irel.

    Edmund Spenser has followed both Virgil and Theocritus in the charms which he employs for curing Britomartis of her love; but he had also our poet’s Ceiris in his eye. John Dryden, Æn.

    Misdoubt my constancy, and do not try;
    But stay and ever keep me in your eye. John Dryden, Ind. Emperor.

    After this jealousy he kept a strict eye upon him. Roger L'Estrange.

    This method of teaching children by a repeated practice, under the eye and direction of the tutor, ’till they have got the habit of doing well, has many advantages. John Locke.

    These are intrinsick difficulties arising from the text itself, as the uncertainty sometimes who are the persons he speaks to, or the opinions or practices which he has in his eye. John Locke.

    Several performances have been justly applauded for their wit, which have been written with an eye to this predominant humour of the town. Joseph Addison, Freeholder, №. 35.

    We were the most obedient creatures in the world, constant to our duty, and kept a steddy eye on the end for which we were sent hither. Spectator, №. 577.

    She told her husband, she designed to be beautiful in no body’s eye but his. Philip Sidney.

    It hath, in their eye, no great affinity with the form of the church of Rome. Richard Hooker, b. v. s. 27.

    Like one of two contending in a prize,
    That thinks he hath done well in people’s eyes. William Shakespeare.

    I was as far from meditating a war as I was, in the eye of the world, from having any preparations for one. Charles I .

    Though he in all the people’s eyes seem’d great,
    Yet greater he appear’d in his retreat. John Denham.

    There shall he practise tilts and tournaments,
    Hear sweet discourse, converse with noblemen;
    And be, in eye of every exercise,
    Worthy his youth and nobleness of birth. William Shakespeare.

    Or see colours like the eye of a peacock’s feather, by pressing our eyes on either corner, whilst we look the other way. Isaac Newton, Opt.

    This Ajax has not so much wit as will stop the eye of Helen’s needle. William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

    Does not our Saviour himself speak of the intolerable difficulty which they cause in men’s passage to heaven? Do not they make the narrow way much narrower, and contract the gate which leads to life to the streightness of a needle’s eye? Robert South, Sermons.

    Those parts, if they cohere to one another but by rest only, may be much more easily dissociated, and put into motion by any external body, than they could be, if they were by little hooks and eyes, or other kind of fastenings entangled in one another. Boyle.

    Prune and cut off all your vine-shoots to the very root, save one or two of the stoutest, to be left with three or four eyes of young wood. John Evelyn, Kalendar.

    The ground indeed is tawny.
    —— With an eye of green in’t. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

    Red with an eye of blue, makes a purple. Robert Boyle, on Colours.

    The eyes of your understanding being enlightened. Eph. i.

    A gift doth blind the eyes of the wise. Deutr. xvi 19.

  2. To Eyeverb

    To watch; to keep in view; to observe.

    Etymology: from the noun.

    When they are laid in garrison, they may better hide their defaults than when they are in camp, where they are continually eyed and noted of all men. Edmund Spenser, on Ireland.

    Full many a lady
    I’ve ey’d with best regard. William Shakespeare, Tempest.

    The kitchen Malkin pins
    Her richest lockram ’bout her reeky neck,
    Clamb’ring the walls to eye him. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

    Bid the cheek be ready with a blush,
    Modest as morning, when she coldly eyes
    The youthful Phœbus. William Shakespeare, Troilus and Cressida.

    Bold deed thou hast presum’d, advent’rous Eve,
    And peril great provok’d, who thus hath dar’d,
    Had it been only coveting to eye
    That sacred fruit. John Milton, Paradise Lost, b. ix. l. 923.

    Such a story as the basilisk is that of the wolf, concerning priority of vision, that a man becomes hoarse and dumb, if the wolf have the advantage first to eye him. Thomas Browne, Vulg. Err.

    It was needful for her perpetually to eye her pursuing enemy. Henry More, Antidote against Atheism.

    Then gave it to his faithful squire,
    With lessons how t’ observe and eye her. Hudibras, p. iii.

    Eye nature’s walks, shoot folly as it flies,
    And catch the manners living as they rise. Alexander Pope, Ess. on Man.

    Have a box when eunuchs sing,
    And foremost in the circle eye a king. Alexander Pope, Epist. of Hor.

  3. To Eyeverb

    To appear; to show; to bear an appearance.

    Forgive me,
    Since my becomings kill me when they do not
    Eye well to you. William Shakespeare, Anthony and Cleopatra.

Wikipedia

  1. Eye

    Eyes are organs of the visual system. They provide living organisms with vision, the ability to receive and process visual detail, as well as enabling several photo response functions that are independent of vision. Eyes detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons (neurones). In higher organisms, the eye is a complex optical system which collects light from the surrounding environment, regulates its intensity through a diaphragm, focuses it through an adjustable assembly of lenses to form an image, converts this image into a set of electrical signals, and transmits these signals to the brain through complex neural pathways that connect the eye via the optic nerve to the visual cortex and other areas of the brain. Eyes with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of animal species possess a complex optical system. Image-resolving eyes are present in molluscs, chordates and arthropods.The most simple eyes, pit eyes, are eye-spots which may be set into a pit to reduce the angle of light that enters and affects the eye-spot, to allow the organism to deduce the angle of incoming light. From more complex eyes, retinal photosensitive ganglion cells send signals along the retinohypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nuclei to effect circadian adjustment and to the pretectal area to control the pupillary light reflex.

ChatGPT

  1. eye

    The eye is a sensory organ that detects and receives visual information from the surrounding environment, allowing organisms to perceive and interpret objects, colors, and movements. It is responsible for the sense of vision in various animals, including humans, and consists of various components such as the cornea, pupil, lens, retina, and optic nerve.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Eyenoun

    a brood; as, an eye of pheasants

  2. Eyenoun

    the organ of sight or vision. In man, and the vertebrates generally, it is properly the movable ball or globe in the orbit, but the term often includes the adjacent parts. In most invertebrates the years are immovable ocelli, or compound eyes made up of numerous ocelli. See Ocellus

  3. Eyenoun

    the faculty of seeing; power or range of vision; hence, judgment or taste in the use of the eye, and in judging of objects; as, to have the eye of sailor; an eye for the beautiful or picturesque

  4. Eyenoun

    the action of the organ of sight; sight, look; view; ocular knowledge; judgment; opinion

  5. Eyenoun

    the space commanded by the organ of sight; scope of vision; hence, face; front; the presence of an object which is directly opposed or confronted; immediate presence

  6. Eyenoun

    observation; oversight; watch; inspection; notice; attention; regard

  7. Eyenoun

    that which resembles the organ of sight, in form, position, or appearance

  8. Eyenoun

    the spots on a feather, as of peacock

  9. Eyenoun

    the scar to which the adductor muscle is attached in oysters and other bivalve shells; also, the adductor muscle itself, esp. when used as food, as in the scallop

  10. Eyenoun

    the bud or sprout of a plant or tuber; as the eye of a potato

  11. Eyenoun

    the center of a target; the bull's-eye

  12. Eyenoun

    a small loop to receive a hook; as hooks and eyes on a dress

  13. Eyenoun

    the hole through the head of a needle

  14. Eyenoun

    a loop forming part of anything, or a hole through anything, to receive a rope, hook, pin, shaft, etc.; as an eye at the end of a tie bar in a bridge truss; as an eye through a crank; an eye at the end of rope

  15. Eyenoun

    the hole through the upper millstone

  16. Eyenoun

    that which resembles the eye in relative importance or beauty

  17. Eyenoun

    tinge; shade of color

  18. Eyeverb

    to fix the eye on; to look on; to view; to observe; particularly, to observe or watch narrowly, or with fixed attention; to hold in view

  19. Eyeverb

    to appear; to look

  20. Etymology: [Prob. fr. nye, an eye being for a nye. See Nye.]

Wikidata

  1. Eye

    Eyes are organs that detect light and convert it into electro-chemical impulses in neurons. The simplest photoreceptor cells in conscious vision connect light to movement. In higher organisms the eye is a complex optical system which collects light from the surrounding environment, regulates its intensity through a diaphragm, focuses it through an adjustable assembly of lenses to form an image, converts this image into a set of electrical signals, and transmits these signals to the brain through complex neural pathways that connect the eye via the optic nerve to the visual cortex and other areas of the brain. Eyes with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms, and 96% of animal species possess a complex optical system. Image-resolving eyes are present in molluscs, chordates and arthropods. The simplest "eyes", such as those in microorganisms, do nothing but detect whether the surroundings are light or dark, which is sufficient for the entrainment of circadian rhythms. From more complex eyes, retinal photosensitive ganglion cells send signals along the retinohypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nuclei to effect circadian adjustment.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Eye

    ī, n. (obs.) a brood. [For nye, neye; a neye=an eye. See Eyas.]

  2. Eye

    ī, n. the organ of sight or vision, more correctly the globe or movable part of it: the power of seeing: sight: regard: aim: keenness of perception: anything resembling an eye, as the hole of a needle, loop or ring for a hook, &c.: the seed-bud of a potato: (pl.) the foremost part of a ship's bows, the hawse-holes.—v.t. to look on: to observe narrowly.—v.i. (Shak.) to appear:—pr.p. ey′ing or eye′ing; pa.p. eyed (īd).—ns. Eye′-ball, the ball, globe, or apple of the eye; Eye′-beam, a glance of the eye; Eye′bright, a beautiful little plant of the genus Euphrasia, formerly used as a remedy for diseases of the eye (see Euphrasy); Eye′brow, the hairy arch above the eye.—v.t. to provide with artificial eyebrows.—adj. Eye′browless, without eyebrows.—p.adj. Eyed, having eyes: spotted as if with eyes.—ns. Eye′-drop (Shak.), a tear; Eye′-flap, a blinder on a horse's bridle; Eye′-glance, a quick look; Eye′glass, a glass to assist the sight, esp. such as stick on the nose by means of a spring: the eye-piece of a telescope and like instrument: (Shak.) the lens of the eye; Eye′lash, the line of hairs that edges the eyelid.—adj. Eye′less, without eyes or sight: deprived of eyes: blind.—ns. Eye′let, Eye′let-hole, a small eye or hole to receive a lace or cord, as in garments, sails, &c.: a small hole for seeing through: a little eye.—v.i. to make eyelets.—ns. Eye′liad, obsolete form of œillade; Eye′lid, the lid or cover of the eye: the portion of movable skin by means of which the eye is opened or closed at pleasure; Eye′-ō′pener, something that opens the eyes literally or figuratively, a startling story: a drink, esp. in the morning; Eye′-piece, the lens or combination of lenses at the eye-end of a telescope; Eye′-pit, the socket of the eye; Eye′-salve, salve or ointment for the eyes; Eye′-serv′ant, a servant who does his duty only when under the eye of his master; Eye′-serv′ice, service performed only under the eye or inspection of an employer: formal worship; Eye′-shot, the reach or range of sight of the eye: a glance; Eye′sight, power of seeing: view: observation; Eye′sore, anything that is offensive to the eye or otherwise; Eye′-splice, a kind of eye or loop formed by splicing the end of a rope into itself; Eye′-spot, a spot like an eye.—adj. Eye′-spot′ted (Spens.), marked with spots like eyes.—ns. Eye′-stone, a small calcareous body used for removing substances from under the eyelid; Eye′-string, the muscle which raises the eyelid; Eye′-tooth, one of the two canine teeth of the upper jaw, between the incisors and premolars; Eye′-wa′ter, water flowing from the eye: a lotion for the eyes; Eye′-wink (Shak.), a rapid lowering and raising of the eyelid: a glance: the time of a wink; Eye′-wit′ness, one who sees a thing done.—Eye for eye, lex talionis (Ex. xxi. 24); Eye of day, the sun.—All my eye (slang) unreal; Be all eyes, to give all attention; Be a sheet in the wind's eye, to be intoxicated; Clap, Lay, Set, eyes on (coll.), to see; Cry one's eyes out, to weep bitterly; Cut one's eye-tooth, to cease to be a child: to be shrewd; Give an eye to, to attend to; Green eye, jealousy; Have an eye to, to contemplate: to have regard to; In eye, in sight; In one's mind's eye, in contemplation; In the eyes of, in the estimation, opinion, of; In the wind's eye, against the wind; Keep one's eye on, to observe closely: to watch; Make a person open his eyes, to cause him astonishment; Make eyes at, to look at in an amorous way: to ogle; Mind your eye (slang), take care; My eye! a mild asseveration; Naked eye (see Naked); Open a person's eyes, to make him see: to show him something of which he is ignorant; Pipe, or Put the finger in, the eye, to weep; See eye to eye, from Is. lii. 8, but used in the sense of 'to think alike;' See with half an eye, to see without difficulty; Under the eye of, under the observation of; Up to the eyes, deeply engaged. [A.S. éage; cf. Goth. augo, Ger. auge, Dut. oog, Ice. auga.]

The Roycroft Dictionary

  1. eye

    1. An organ of the human body which sees the universe as it is not, and transmits the same to the brain. 2. The soul's feelers and pickers.

Dictionary of Nautical Terms

  1. eye

    The circular loop of a shroud or stay where it goes over the mast.--To eye, to observe minutely.--Flemish eye, a phrase particularly applied to the eye of a stay, which is either formed at the making of the rope; or by dividing the yarns into two equal parts, knotting each pair separately, and pointing the whole over after parcelling. This eye stopped by the mouse forms the collar. It is not strong, soon rots, and seldom, if ever, used now where strength is of more importance than neatness.

Editors Contribution

  1. eye

    An organ of sight within a human being, organism or animal.

    Human beings and animals have eyes which enable them to see.


    Submitted by MaryC on December 31, 2019  

Suggested Resources

  1. eye

    The eye symbol -- In this Symbols.com article you will learn about the meaning of the eye symbol and its characteristic.

  2. EYE

    What does EYE stand for? -- Explore the various meanings for the EYE acronym on the Abbreviations.com website.

Etymology and Origins

  1. Eye

    Expresses the Anglo-Saxon for island. The river Waveney surrounds the town.

Surnames Frequency by Census Records

  1. EYE

    According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Eye is ranked #17775 in terms of the most common surnames in America.

    The Eye surname appeared 1,576 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 1 would have the surname Eye.

    96% or 1,514 total occurrences were White.
    1.6% or 26 total occurrences were of Hispanic origin.
    0.8% or 14 total occurrences were Black.
    0.6% or 10 total occurrences were of two or more races.

Matched Categories

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'eye' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #1067

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'eye' in Written Corpus Frequency: #1322

  3. Nouns Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'eye' in Nouns Frequency: #43

Usage in printed sourcesFrom: 

Anagrams for eye »

  1. yee

How to pronounce eye?

How to say eye in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of eye in Chaldean Numerology is: 2

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of eye in Pythagorean Numerology is: 8

Examples of eye in a Sentence

  1. Heather Lydia Thornhill:

    You are the comfort blanket of my eye when I hold you you are no longer afraid to die.

  2. Ronnie Kasrils:

    The first people he appointed were in his security team, it was vital that Zuma had the heads of intelligence to do his bidding. It gives you the ability to dig up dirt on politicians and keep a close eye on opponents.

  3. Radek Stepanek:

    It's going to be intense for quite some time with what happened, but I believe when he gets back on court and gets his eye on the possible trophy that he will focus on what he is doing and he will get strong again.

  4. Sipho P Nkosi:

    What you wish for can elude you within a blink of an eye if you hesitate.

  5. Yasmin Balai:

    If something happens to catch my eye, I will take a picture of it, but it's not like I am chasing around for photographs with the camera in my hand, i try to photograph a mix between personal and quiet moments, with scenes which are also describing the daily activities and interactions of the community.

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Popularity rank by frequency of use

eye#1#1566#10000

References

Translations for eye

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    express strong disapproval of
    A observe
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    C distinguish
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