| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |   |
| NOUN: | 1. An organ of vision or of light sensitivity. 2a. Either of a pair of hollow structures located in bony sockets of the skull, functioning together or independently, each having a lens capable of focusing incident light on an internal photosensitive retina from which nerve impulses are sent to the brain; the vertebrate organ of vision. b. The external, visible portion of this organ together with its associated structures, especially the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows. c. The pigmented iris of this organ. 3. The faculty of seeing; vision. 4. The ability to make intellectual or aesthetic judgments: has a good eye for understated fashion. 5a. A way of regarding something; a point of view: To my eye, the decorations are excellent. b. Attention: The lavish window display immediately got my eye. c. Watchful attention or supervision: always under his boss's eye; kept an eye on her valuables. 6. Something suggestive of the vertebrate organ of vision, especially: a. An opening in a needle. b. The aperture of a camera. c. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread. d. A circular marking on a peacock's feather. e. Chiefly Southern U.S. The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called Regional griddle. 7. A photosensitive device, such as a photoelectric cell. 8. Botany a. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato. b. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers. 9a. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone. b. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy. 10. Informal A detective, especially a private investigator. 11. A choice center cut of meat, as of beef: eye of the round. Also called regionally Regional cap1. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: eyed, eye·ing or ey·ing (  ng), eyes
1. To look at: eyed the passing crowd with indifference. 2. To watch closely: eyed the shark's movements. 3. To supply with an eye. | | IDIOMS: | all eyes Fully attentive. an eye for an eye Punishment in which an offender suffers what the victim has suffered. clap (or lay) (or set) (one's) eyes on To look at. eye to eye In agreement: We're eye to eye on all the vital issues. have eyes for To be interested in. have (one's) eye on 1. To look at, especially attentively or continuously. 2. To have as one's objective. in the eye of the wind Nautical In a direction opposite that of the wind; close to the wind. in the public eye 1. Frequently seen in public or in the media. 2. Widely publicized; well-known. my eye Slang In no way; not at all. Used interjectionally. with an eye to With a view to: redecorated the room with an eye to its future use as a nursery. with (one's) eyes closed Unaware of the risks involved. with (one's) eyes open Aware of the risks involved. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English  ge, age. See okw- in Appendix I.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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