optic

[ op-tik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to the eye or sight.
2. optical.

noun

1. the eye.
2. a lens of an optical instrument.

Optic

¹

/ ˈɒptɪk /

noun

1. a device attached to an inverted bottle for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, such as whisky, gin, etc

optic

²

/ ˈɒptɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the eye or vision
2. See optical
   a less common word for optical

noun

1. See eye
   an informal word for eye 1

optic

/ ŏp′tĭk /

1. Relating to or involving the eye or vision.

Other Words From

• inter·optic adjective
• non·optic adjective
• post·optic adjective
• pre·optic adjective
• sub·optic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of optic¹

1535–45; < Medieval Latin opticus < Greek optikós, equivalent to opt ( ós ) seen (verbid of ópsesthai to see) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of optic¹

C16: from Medieval Latin opticus, from Greek optikos, from optos visible, seen; related to ōps eye

Example Sentences

The former officials said the mayor expressed concern about the optics of a direct transaction with Manchester in the September 2016 meeting.

From Voice of San Diego

Heightened security, and worry about the optics or effectiveness of protests in the wake of the Capitol attack, shrunk to nearly nothing yesterday.

From Washington Post

Pickle confirmed the account of former Capitol Police chief Steven Sund, who previously told The Post that when he suggested bringing in the Guard, Irving responded that he was concerned about the “optics” of such a move.

From Washington Post

Fiber optics helped bring this article to whatever device you’re reading it on.

From Popular-Science

The optics in a pair of binocs are “probably about as good” as the telescope Galileo used to discover Jupiter’s moons, Cuzzi says.

From Fortune

Memes that ridiculed political leaders and the Hong Kong Police Force shot through fiber optic cables at light speed.

From The Daily Beast

Silva concludes that America is afflicted by the socio-optic condition of “colorblind racism.”

From The Daily Beast

SAMI consists of 13 bundles of fiber-optic cables, each containing 60 or more fibers in what the researchers call “hexabundles.”

From The Daily Beast

But the cable corridors build into the panels could also house fiber-optic cable that transmit data.

From The Daily Beast

Suddenly sets were being sold with micro-motor and fiber-optic kits included.

From The Daily Beast

Also the tender points of the fibres of the optic nerve would soon become blunted and the eye of course useless.

From Project Gutenberg

There are no colors; there is no light,—there is nothing but the ether waves, which cause a vibration of the optic nerve.

From Project Gutenberg

It is not the retina which is affected by a positive reality, it is the optic thalami of the brain which are excited.

From Project Gutenberg

From that time down to the present day, the pen of "Oliver Optic" has been busily employed in behalf of the American youth.

From Project Gutenberg

A diminution or total loss of sight, arising from paralysis of the retina or optic nerve.

From Project Gutenberg