ommatidium

American  

[om-uh-tid-ee-uhm] / ˌɒm əˈtɪd i əm /

noun

Zoology.

plural

ommatidia

1. one of the radial elements composing a compound eye.

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ommatidium British  

/ ˌɒməˈtɪdɪəm /

noun

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

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ommatidium Scientific  

/ ŏm′ə-tĭd′ē-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.

2. See more at compound eye

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Other Word Forms

• ommatidial adjective

Etymology

Origin of ommatidium

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

Example Sentences

The ommataeum, as already stated, tends to segregate into retinulae which correspond potentially each to an ommatidium of the compound eye.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

Each ommatidium is an elongated cone with its broad extremity abutting against the corneal lenticle.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 6 "Celtes, Konrad" to "Ceramics" by Various

The cells of the ommatidium are a good deal larger than the neighbouring common cells of the epidermis.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various

The ommatidium is from the first segregate and consists of few cells.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 6 "Armour Plates" to "Arundel, Earls of" by Various

The lateral eyes of Scorpio consist of groups of separate small lenses each with its ommatidium, but they do not form a continuous compound eye as in Limulus.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 3 "Apollodorus" to "Aral" by Various