eyeball

American  

[ahy-bawl] / ˈaɪˌbɔl /

noun

1. the ball or globe of the eye.

2. Informal. eyeballs, people who view or read something.

   Old TV shows are getting a lot of eyeballs online.

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verb (used with object)

1. Informal. to look at, check, or observe closely.

   two opponents eyeballing each other.

idioms

1. give (someone) the hairy eyeball, to look at (someone) with eyelids partly lowered, as in hostility or distrust.

eyeball British  

/ ˈaɪˌbɔːl /

noun

1. the entire ball-shaped part of the eye

2. in close confrontation

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verb

1. slang (tr) to stare at

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• eyeballer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of eyeball

1580–90; 1900–05 eyeball for def. 3; eye + ball ¹

Explanation

Your eyeball is the round, ball-shaped part of your eye. When you go to an eye doctor, she will take a close look at your eyeballs. Every vertebrate — or animal with a spine — has eyeballs that sit within an eye socket. Your eyeballs are your organs of sight, making it possible for you to see light and color and to focus on the things you're looking at, sending all of these messages to your brain. You can also use the word eyeball, informally, as a verb: "Why do you always eyeball me when I walk by? Is it my strange hat?"

Related Words

• analyze
• check
• check out
• comb
• consider
• dissect
• explore
• inspect
• investigate
• look over
• peruse
• pore over
• probe
• scan
• sift
• watch
• weigh