reticle

American  

[ret-i-kuhl] / ˈrɛt ɪ kəl /

noun

Optics.

1. a network of fine lines, wires, or the like placed in the focus of the eyepiece of an optical instrument.

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reticle British  

/ ˈrɛtɪkəl /

noun

1. Also called: graticule.  a network of fine lines, wires, etc, placed in the focal plane of an optical instrument to assist measurement of the size or position of objects under observation

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Etymology

Origin of reticle

1650–60; < Latin rēticulum little net, equivalent to rēt- (stem of rēte ) net + -i- -i- + -culum -cle ¹

Example Sentences

The result of the inexorable reticle limit is the end of chips.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 3, 2025

The men in the vehicle couldn’t see very well, and Conor told them to go down below and look through the reticle gunsights, McDowell said he was told.

From Washington Post • May 23, 2019

Then it's demo time, you lean how a "glance" is just you looking at things and pointing your reticle at them and an "AirTap" is the equivalent of clicking your mouse.

From The Verge • Jan. 21, 2015

Shooters then align the red dot with a blue cross-hair, or reticle, which also appears on the screen.

From BusinessWeek • May 22, 2013

You press the trigger and flip the wand back to nock an arrow, then point an aiming reticle at the target.

From Seattle Times • Sep. 19, 2010