nictitating membrane
a thin membrane, or inner or third eyelid, present in many animals, capable of being drawn across the eyeball, as for protection.
Origin of nictitating membrane
1Words Nearby nictitating membrane
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use nictitating membrane in a sentence
None have the nictitating membrane, and in all the eggs are hatched internally.
A Guide to the Study of Fishes, Volume 1 (of 2) | David Starr JordanThe eye is provided with a nictitating membrane or third eyelid, at the base of which open the ducts of the Harderian gland.
The moment after, the eye itself confirmed this—the nictitating membrane was rapidly drawn over it, and as rapidly removed.
The Open Air | Richard JefferiesHaw, haw, n. the nictitating membrane or third eyelid, as of a horse; also a disease of this membrane.
In Elasmobranchii they are better developed, and the nictitating membrane is frequently present.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume III (of 4) | Francis Maitland Balfour
British Dictionary definitions for nictitating membrane
/ (ˈnɪktɪˌteɪtɪŋ) /
(in reptiles, birds, and some mammals) a thin fold of skin beneath the eyelid that can be drawn across the eye: Also called: third eyelid, haw
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for nictitating membrane
[ nĭk′tĭ-tā′tĭng ]
A transparent inner eyelid in birds, reptiles, amphibians, and some mammals that protects and moistens the eye without blocking vision.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Browse