optical

• POS: Adjective
• HYPHEN: op=ti=cal

CIDE DICTIONARY

optical, a. [F. optique, Gr. 'optiko`s; akin to 'o`psis sight, 'o`pwpa I have seen, 'o`psomai I shall see, and to 'o`sse the two eyes, 'o`ps face, L. oculus eye. See Ocular, Eye, and cf. Canopy, Ophthalmia.].

•  Of, pertaining to, or using vision or sight; as, optical illusions.  [1913 Webster]

  "The moon, whose orb
  Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views."  [1913 Webster]
•  Of or pertaining to the eye; ocular; as, the optic nerves (the first pair of cranial nerves) which are distributed to the retina; the optic (or optical) axis of the eye. See Illust. of Brain, and Eye.  [1913 Webster]
•  Relating to the science of optics or to devices designed to assist vision; as, optical works; optical equipment.  [1913 Webster]

Optic angle (Opt.), the angle included between the optic axes of the two eyes when directed to the same point; -- sometimes called binocular parallax. -- Optic axis. (Opt.) (a) A line drawn through the center of the eye perpendicular to its anterior and posterior surfaces. In a normal eye it is in the direction of the optic axis that objects are most distinctly seen. (b) The line in a doubly refracting crystal, in the direction of which no double refraction occurs. A uniaxial crystal has one such line, a biaxial crystal has two. -- Optical circle (Opt.), a graduated circle used for the measurement of angles in optical experiments. -- Optical square, a surveyor's instrument with reflectors for laying off right angles.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

optical, adj.
1 of sight; visual.
2 a of or concerning sight or light in relation to each other. b belonging to optics.
3 (esp. of a lens) constructed to assist sight or on the principles of optics.

Idiom

optical activity Chem. the property of rotating the plane of polarization of plane-polarized light. optical art a style of painting that gives the illusion of movement by the precise use of pattern and colour. optical brightener any fluorescent substance used to produce a whitening effect on laundry. optical character recognition the identification of printed characters using photoelectric devices. optical disc see DISC. optical fibre thin glass fibre through which light can be transmitted. optical glass a very pure kind of glass used for lenses etc. optical illusion
1 a thing having an appearance so resembling something else as to deceive the eye.
2 an instance of mental misapprehension caused by this. optical microscope a microscope using the direct perception of light (cf. electron microscope).

Derivative

optically adv.

ROGET THESAURUS

optical

Vision

N vision, sight, optics, eyesight, view, look, espial, glance, ken, coup d'oeil, glimpse, glint, peep, gaze, stare, leer, perlustration, contemplation, conspection, conspectuity, regard, survey, introspection, reconnaissance, speculation, watch, espionage, espionnage, autopsy, ocular inspection, ocular demonstration, sight-seeing, point of view, gazebo, loophole, belvedere, watchtower, field of view, theater, amphitheater, arena, vista, horizon, commanding view, bird's eye view, periscope, visual organ, organ of vision, eye, naked eye, unassisted eye, retina, pupil, iris, cornea, white, optics, orbs, saucer eyes, goggle eyes, gooseberry eyes, short sight, clear sight, sharp sight, quick sight, eagle sight, piercing sight, penetrating sight, clear glance, sharp glance, quick glance, eagle glance, piercing glance, penetrating glance, clear eye, sharp eye, quick eye, eagle eye, piercing eye, penetrating eye, perspicacity, discernment, catopsis, eagle, hawk, cat, lynx, Argus, evil eye, basilisk, cockatrice, seeing, visual, ocular, optic, optical, ophthalmic, clear-eyesighted, eagle-eyed, hawk-eyed, lynx-eyed, keen- eyed, Argus-eyed, visible, visibly, in sight of, with one's eyes open at sight, at first sight, at a glance, at the first blush, prima facie, Int, look!, the scales falling from one's eyes, an eye like Mars to threaten or command, her eyes are homes of silent prayer, looking before and after, thy rapt soul sitting in thine eyes.