retina

American  

[ret-n-uh, ret-nuh] / ˈrɛt n ə, ˈrɛt nə /

noun

Anatomy.

plural

retinas, retinae

1. the innermost coat of the posterior part of the eyeball that receives the image produced by the lens, is continuous with the optic nerve, and consists of several layers, one of which contains the rods and cones that are sensitive to light.

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Trademark, Computers.

1. Retina, a brand name used by Apple, Inc., to describe display screens having a resolution so high that it is difficult to see individual pixels with the human eye.

   a Retina display; Retina technology; Retina quality.

retina British  

/ ˈrɛtɪnə /

noun

1. the light-sensitive membrane forming the inner lining of the posterior wall of the eyeball, composed largely of a specialized terminal expansion of the optic nerve. Images focused here by the lens of the eye are transmitted to the brain as nerve impulses

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retina Scientific  

/ rĕt′n-ə /

plural

retinas

1. The light-sensitive membrane that lines the inside of the back of the eyeball and connects to the brain by the optic nerve. The retina of vertebrate animals contains rods and cones, specialized cells that absorb light.

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retina Cultural  

1. The inner layer of the eye, sensitive to light, that is connected to the brain by the optic nerve. The retina lines the rear of the eye-ball. The lens of the eye focuses waves of light on the retina.

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Other Word Forms

• retinal adjective

Etymology

Origin of retina

1350–1400; Middle English ret ( h ) ina < Medieval Latin rētina, perhaps equivalent to Latin rēt- (stem of rēte ) net + -ina -ine ¹

Example Sentences

Another project being led by the University of Edinburgh is developing an AI tool which could be used by opticians to spot the early signs of dementia, by analysing photographs of the retina.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2026

Retinal detachment occurs when the thin layer at the back of the eye - the retina - becomes loose.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

Because Murray had suffered a detached retina and feared another, occasionally triggered, he was told, by any sudden movement of his head, other Times staffers at the game had a quiet assignment.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 7, 2025

Her work revealed a distinct region along the rim of the retina that is densely filled with dividing neural stem cells whenever the adult eye is expanding.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

The most sensitive part of the retina is not at the center of the field of view.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan