optic

[op-tik]

adjective

1. of or relating to the eye or sight.

2. optical.

noun

1. the eye.

2. a lens of an optical instrument.

Optic

¹

/ ˈɒptɪk /

noun

1. a device attached to an inverted bottle for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, such as whisky, gin, etc

optic

²

/ ˈɒptɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the eye or vision

2. a less common word for optical

noun

1. an informal word for eye 1

optic

1. Relating to or involving the eye or vision.

Other Word Forms

• interoptic adjective
• nonoptic adjective
• postoptic adjective
• preoptic adjective
• suboptic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of optic¹

1535–45; < Medieval Latin opticus < Greek optikós, equivalent to opt ( ós ) seen (verbid of ópsesthai to see) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of optic¹

C16: from Medieval Latin opticus, from Greek optikos, from optos visible, seen; related to ōps eye

Example Sentences

Kruglov had worked as a fiber optics cable installer in New York, but a little over a year ago, he left the city to embark on a walkabout.

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But critics warned the optics risked chilling voters in heavily Democratic communities, especially given California’s ballot fight over a high-stakes redistricting measure.

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To correct for this, the Subaru Telescope team used adaptive optics, a technology that continuously adjusts to cancel out these distortions and stabilize the light waves in real time.

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In September, air-traffic controllers in Dallas lost radar and other communications, causing flight cancellations, after two fiber optic cables were cut.

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In optics, a similar process occurs when two mirrors trap light between them, creating a standing wave inside what scientists call a cavity.

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