Müller-Lyer illusion

[ muhl-er-lahy-er, myoo-ler-, mil-er-; German myl-uhr-lee-uhr ]

noun

1. a geometric illusion in which two lines of equal length appear unequal depending on whether angular lines forming arrowheads at each end point toward or away from each other.

Müller-Lyer illusion

/ ˈmuːləˈlaɪə /

noun

1. an optical illusion in which a line with inward pointing arrowheads is seen as longer than an equal line with outward pointing arrowheads

Word History and Origins

Origin of Müller-Lyer illusion¹

After Franz-Karl Müller-Lyer (1857–1916), German sociologist, who described the illusion in 1889

Word History and Origins

Origin of Müller-Lyer illusion¹

C19: named after Franz Müller-Lyer (1857–1916), German sociologist and psychiatrist