optic
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.relating to the eye or the sense of sight.
adj.relating to the eye or the physiological process of vision.
Simple“The doctor examined the optic nerve to check for any signs of damage.”
In context“The optic nerve serves as the primary conduit for visual information, transmitting electrical impulses from the retina directly to the brain's visual cortex.”
UsageUsually placed before the noun it modifies.
- 02 C1 Advanced
n.a device attached to a bottle in a bar that measures a standard amount of alcohol.
n.a proprietary device fitted to an inverted bottle in a commercial bar to dispense a precise, regulated volume of spirits.
Simple“The bartender reached for the gin bottle on the optic to pour a single shot.”
In context“In many British pubs, spirits are dispensed via an optic to ensure compliance with strict weights and measures legislation.”
Teacher's tipThis is a very specific British term; American speakers would likely refer to this simply as a 'pourer' or 'dispenser'.
- 03 C2 Proficiency
n.a funny or old-fashioned way to say 'eye'.
n.a jocular or archaic term for the eye.
Simple“He kept a sharp optic on the children while they played near the water.”
In context“The old sailor fixed his weary optics on the horizon, searching for any sign of the approaching storm.”
Teacher's tipOnly use this in a very playful or literary context; it sounds very strange in modern everyday conversation.
Synonymseyepeeper - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a lens or part of a tool like a telescope that works with light.
n.an individual lens, mirror, or prism within a complex optical instrument.
Simple“The technician cleaned the optics of the microscope very carefully.”
In context“High-end cameras require precision-engineered optics to minimize chromatic aberration and ensure sharpness across the entire frame.”
“Much of the internet already relies on light to carry information through fiber optic cables.”
“To do so, they examined the antennae and various brain regions of ants that had previously been observed, including the optic lobes and central brain regions.”
Borrowed from Middle French optique or Medieval Latin opticus, from Ancient Greek ὀπτῐκός (optĭkós, “of or for sight”), from ὀπτός (optós, “visible”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, “-ic”, adjectival suffix).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.