optical
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or applying optics or the principles of optics.
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constructed to assist sight or to correct defects in vision.
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of or relating to sight or vision; visual.
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of or relating to the eye.
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of or relating to an optician or opticians or to their products, especially eyeglasses.
an optical service.
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dealing with or skilled in optics.
noun
adjective
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of, relating to, producing, or involving light
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of or relating to the eye or to the sense of sight; optic
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(esp of a lens) aiding vision or correcting a visual disorder
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Relating to vision or the eyes.
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Relating to optics.
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Relating to or using visible light.
Other Word Forms
- nonoptical adjective
- nonoptically adverb
- optically adverb
- suboptical adjective
- suboptically adverb
Etymology
Origin of optical
Explanation
Anything that's optical has something to do with sight. You could call your glasses an optical aid, since they help you see things more clearly. Optical assistance comes in many forms, from glasses and contacts to binoculars and telescopes. All of these optical devices help magnify or clarify your vision. Using a big telescope to view the stars is known as optical astronomy, as opposed to the kind of astronomy that's practiced using radio signals or math. An optical illusion is a trick played on your eyes, when what they perceive is different from what is actually there.
Vocabulary lists containing optical
Common Senses: Op, Ops, Opt ("Sight")
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Punching the Air
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Corning, a 175-year-old glass manufacturer, is benefiting from AI-driven optical networking demand.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
Interest in optical connectivity has grown amid the AI-infrastructure buildout, as it is seen as a faster, more energy-efficient solution compared with traditional copper-based wires.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
The acquisition expands Credo’s portfolio with SiPho circuits, aiming for $500 million in optical division revenue by fiscal 2027.
From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026
The companies’ combined portfolio is expected to drive more than $500 million in optical revenue in fiscal 2027, Credo said.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026
The optical sensors seem to have mistaken Alpha and Beta Centauri for Canopus.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
