optic
/ˈɑp.tɪk/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.65 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
2
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of, or relating to optics or optical instruments.
noun
A lens or other part of an optical instrument that interacts with light.
Example Sentences
- "The moon, whose orb / Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views."
- "The difference is as great between / The optics seeing, as the object seen."
- "how they, / Who saw those figures on the margin kiss all, / Could turn their optics to the text and pray, / Is more than I know[…]"
- "Elbows almost touching they leaned at ease, idly reading the almost obliterated lines engraved there. ¶ "I never understood it," she observed, lightly scornful. "What occult meaning has a sun-dial for the spooney? I'm sure I don't want to read riddles in a strange gentleman's optics.""
- "The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail."
- "They were neatly lined up on three shelves between the optics of martini, vodka, whisky and gin."
Etymology
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).
Origin
Word Breakdown
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɑp.tɪk/
- British English: /ˈɒp.tɪk/