aɪ n. & v. --n. 1 a
the organ of
sight in
man and other animals. b the light-detecting organ in
some invertebrates. 2 the eye characterized by the
colour of the
iris (has blue eyes). 3 the
region round the eye (eyes
red from weeping). 4 a
glass or
plastic ball
serving as an
artificial eye (his eye fell out). 5 (in
sing. or pl.) sight; the
faculty of sight (demonstrate to the eye;
need perfect eyes to be a pilot). 6 a
particular visual faculty or
talent; visual
appreciation (a
straight eye;
cast an
expert eye over). 7 (in sing. or pl.) a
look,
gaze, or glance,
esp. as indicating the
disposition of the
viewer (a
friendly eye). 8
mental awareness;
consciousness. 9 a
person or
animal etc.
that sees on
behalf of
another. 10 a =
electric eye. b =
private eye. 11 a
thing like an eye, esp.: a a
spot on a peacock's tail (cf.
EYELET n. 3). b the
leaf bud of a
potato. 12 the
centre of
something circular, e.g. a
flower or
target. 13 the relatively
calm region at the centre of a
storm or
hurricane. 14 an
aperture in an
implement, esp. a
needle,
for the
insertion of something, e.g.
thread. 15 a ring or
loop for a bolt or
hook etc. to pass
through. --v.tr. (eyes, eyed, eyeing or eying)
watch or
observe closely, esp. admiringly or
with curiosity or
suspicion. øall eyes 1 watching intently. 2
general attention (all eyes
were on us).
before one's (or one's very) eyes
right in
front of
one. do a person in the eye colloq.
defraud or
thwart a person. eye-bolt a bolt or bar with an eye at the
end for a hook etc. eye-catching colloq.
striking,
attractive. eye
contact looking
directly into another person's eyes. an eye for an eye retaliation in kind (Exodus 21:24). eye
language the process of
communication by the
expression of the eyes. eye-level the
level seen by the eyes looking horizontally (eye-level grill). eye-liner a
cosmetic applied as a line round the eye. eye
mask 1 a
covering of
soft material saturated with a
lotion for
refreshing the eyes. 2 a covering for the eyes. eye-opener colloq. 1 an enlightening
experience; an
unexpected revelation. 2 US an
alcoholic drink taken on waking
up. eye-rhyme a
correspondence of words in
spelling but
not in
pronunciation (e.g.
love and move). eyes front (or left or right)
Mil. a
command to
turn the
head in the
direction stated. eye-shade a
device to
protect the eyes, esp. from
strong light. eye-shadow a
coloured cosmetic applied to the
skin round the eyes. eye-spot 1 a a light-sensitive
area on the bodies of some
invertebrate animals, e.g. flatworms,
starfish,
etc.; an
ocellus. b
Bot. an area of light-sensitive
pigment found in some algae etc. 2
any of
several fungus diseases of plants characterized by yellowish
oval spots on the
leaves and stems. eye-stalk Zool. a
movable stalk carrying the eye, esp. in crabs, shrimps, etc. eye strain
fatigue of the (internal or external) muscles of the eye. eye-tooth a
canine tooth just under or
next to the eye, esp. in the upper
jaw. eye-worm a
nematode worm, Loa loa, parasitic on man and other primates in
Central and
West Africa.
get (or keep) one's eye in
Sport accustom oneself (or
keep oneself accustomed) to the conditions of
play so as to
judge speed,
distance, etc.
have an eye for be
capable of perceiving or appreciating. have one's eye on
wish or
plan to
procure. have eyes for be interested
in; wish to
acquire. have an eye to have as one's
objective; prudently
consider.
hit a person in the eye (or
between the eyes) colloq. be
very obvious or
impressive. keep an eye on 1 pay attention
to. 2 look
after;
take care of. keep an eye
open (or out) (often foll. by for) watch carefully. keep one's eyes open (or peeled or skinned) watch
out; be on the
alert. lower one's eyes look modestly or sheepishly down or
away.
make eyes (or sheep's eyes) (foll. by at) look amorously or flirtatiously
at. my (or
all my) eye sl.
nonsense. one in the eye (foll. by for) a
disappointment or setback. open a person's eyes be enlightening or revealing to a person.
raise one's eyes look upwards. see eye to eye (often foll. by with) be in full
agreement. set eyes on
catch sight of. take one's eyes
off (usu. in neg.)
stop watching; stop paying attention to. under the eye of under the supervision or
observation of. up to the (or one's) eyes in 1 deeply
engaged or involved in; inundated with (up to the eyes in work). 2 to the
utmost limit (mortgaged up to the eyes). with one's eyes open deliberately; with full awareness. with one's eyes
shut (or closed) 1
easily; with
little effort. 2
without awareness;
unobservant (goes
around with
his eyes shut). with an eye to with a
view to; prudently
considering. with a friendly (or
jealous etc.) eye with a
feeling of
friendship,
jealousy, etc. with one eye on directing one's attention
partly to. with one eye shut colloq. easily; with little effort (could do
this with one eye shut). øøeyed adj. (also in comb.). eyeless adj. [OE eage f. Gmc]