ommatidium

[ om-uh-tid-ee-uh m ]

/ ˌɒm əˈtɪd i əm /

noun, plural om·ma·tid·i·a [om-uh-tid-ee-uh] /ˌɒm əˈtɪd i ə/. Zoology.

one of the radial elements composing a compound eye.

Nearby words

omit, omittance, omiya, omm, ommateum, ommatidium, ommatophore, ommiad, omn. bih., omn. hor., omn. man.

Origin of ommatidium

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

Related formsom·ma·tid·i·al, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ommatidium

The ommatidium is from the first segregate and consists of few cells.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6|Various
Each of these facets is the external window of an eye element or ommatidium.
Elementary Zoology, Second Edition|Vernon L. Kellogg
The cells of the ommatidium are a good deal larger than the neighbouring common cells of the epidermis.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3|Various
Ommatidium -ia: one of the elements of which the compound eye is composed.
Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology|John. B. Smith

The ommatidium (soft structure beneath the lens-unit of a compound eye) is very simple in both Scorpio and Limulus.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3|Various

British Dictionary definitions for ommatidium

ommatidium

/ (ˌɒməˈtɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -tidia (-ˈtɪdɪə)

any of the numerous cone-shaped units that make up the compound eyes of some arthropods

Derived Formsommatidial, adjective

Word Origin for ommatidium

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

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

Science definitions for ommatidium

ommatidium

[ ŏm′ə-tĭd′ē-əm ]

Plural ommatidia

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.