ommatidium

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

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.

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. 2018

Examples from the Web for ommatidium

Historical Examples of ommatidium

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

British Dictionary definitions for ommatidium

ommatidium

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

ommatidium in Science

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.