ocellus

American  

[oh-sel-uhs] / oʊˈsɛl əs /

noun

plural

ocelli

1. a type of simple eye common to invertebrates, consisting of retinal cells, pigments, and nerve fibers.

2. an eyelike spot, as on a peacock feather.

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ocellus British  

/ ˈɒsɪˌleɪt, ˈɒsɪˌleɪtɪd, ɒˈsɛləs /

noun

1. the simple eye of insects and some other invertebrates, consisting basically of light-sensitive cells

2. any eyelike marking in animals, such as the eyespot on the tail feather of a peacock

3. botany

   1. an enlarged discoloured cell in a leaf

   2. a swelling on the sporangium of certain fungi

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ocellus Scientific  

/ ō-sĕl′əs /

plural

ocelli

1. A small, simple eye or eyespot, found in many invertebrates.

2. A marking that resembles an eye, as on the wings of some butterflies.

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Other Word Forms

• ocellar adjective
• ocellate adjective
• ocellation noun

Etymology

Origin of ocellus

1810–20; < Latin: little eye, diminutive of oculus eye; -elle

Example Sentences

Sesquialter or Sesquiocellus: a large ocellus including a smaller one.

From Explanation of Terms Used in Entomology by Smith, John. B.

The indentation of the central disc and of the surrounding zones of the ocellus, in both species of peacock, speaks plainly in favour of this view, and is otherwise inexplicable.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles

Portion near summit of one of the Secondary wing-feathers, bearing perfect ball-and-socket ocelli. a. Ornamented upper part. b. Uppermost, imperfect ball-and-socket ocellus.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex Volume II (1st Edition) by Darwin, Charles

Each ocellus is furnished with its own lid, and the apt can, at will, close as many of the facets of his huge eyes as he chooses.

From Thuvia, Maid of Mars by Burroughs, Edgar Rice

A, B, C, D, etc., are dark stripes running obliquely down, each to an ocellus.

From The Descent of Man by Darwin, Charles