fovea

[ foh-vee-uh ]

noun

, Biology.

, plural fo·ve·ae [foh, -vee-ee].

1. a small pit or depression in a bone or other structure.

fovea

/ ˈfəʊvɪə /

noun

1. anatomy any small pit or depression in the surface of a bodily organ or part
2. See fovea centralis

Derived Forms

• ˈfoveal, adjective
• ˈfoveate, adjective

Other Words From

• fove·al adjective
• post·fove·al adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fovea¹

1840–50; < Latin: pit

Word History and Origins

Origin of fovea¹

C19: from Latin: a small pit

Example Sentences

The eye is only capable of distinguishing 60 PPD in the central region of the retina know as the fovea, with significantly lower sensitivity on the periphery.

From Singularity Hub 

Cone cells are especially concentrated in the fovea, and work only in bright light.

From Science News For Students

When the eye focuses on an object, it directs the light bouncing off the object directly onto the fovea to get the best image.

From Science News For Students

Cones respond to light that has passed through the lens and onto the fovea.

From Science News For Students

This central part is called the fovea centralis and is the point of acutest vision.

From Project Gutenberg

Many birds possess besides this temporal fovea a second fovea nearer the nasal side.

From Project Gutenberg

It may well occur, then, that in a movement the image happens to fall on the blind-spot and not on the fovea.

From Project Gutenberg

Another significant fact is that the fovea is of little use in very dim light.

From Project Gutenberg

The fovea centralis of the human retina is the seat of most acute vision, and in the fovea centralis there are no rods.

From Project Gutenberg