ommatidium

[ om-uh-tid-ee-uhm ]

noun,plural om·ma·tid·i·a [om-uh-tid-ee-uh]. /ˌɒm əˈtɪd i ə/. Zoology.
  1. one of the radial elements composing a compound eye.

Origin of ommatidium

1
1880–85; <New Latin <Greek ommat- (stem of ómma eye) + New Latin -idium-idium

Other words from ommatidium

  • om·ma·tid·i·al, adjective

Words Nearby ommatidium

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How to use ommatidium in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ommatidium

ommatidium

/ (ˌɒməˈtɪdɪəm) /


nounplural -tidia (-ˈtɪdɪə)
  1. any of the numerous cone-shaped units that make up the compound eyes of some arthropods

Origin of ommatidium

1
C19: via New Latin from Greek ommatidion, from omma eye

Derived forms of ommatidium

  • ommatidial, adjective

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 ommatidium

ommatidium

[ ŏm′ə-tĭdē-əm ]


Plural ommatidia
  1. One of the tiny light-sensitive parts of the compound eye of insects and other arthropods. An ommatidium resembles a single simplified eye. See more at compound eye.

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