ocellus

[ oh-sel-uh s ]
/ oʊˈsɛl əs /

noun, plural o·cel·li [oh-sel-ahy] /oʊˈsɛl aɪ/.

a type of simple eye common to invertebrates, consisting of retinal cells, pigments, and nerve fibers.
an eyelike spot, as on a peacock feather.

Origin of ocellus

1810–20; < Latin: little eye, diminutive of oculus eye; see -elle

Words nearby ocellus

oceanus procellarum, ocellar, ocellated, ocellated turkey, ocellation, ocellus, ocelot, och, oche, ocher, ochlesis

Example sentences from the Web for ocellus

British Dictionary definitions for ocellus

ocellus
/ (ɒˈsɛləs) /

noun plural -li (-laɪ)

the simple eye of insects and some other invertebrates, consisting basically of light-sensitive cells
any eyelike marking in animals, such as the eyespot on the tail feather of a peacock
botany
  1. an enlarged discoloured cell in a leaf
  2. a swelling on the sporangium of certain fungi

Derived forms of ocellus

ocellar, adjective ocellate (ˈɒsɪˌleɪt) or ocellated (ˈɒsɪˌleɪtɪd), adjective ocellation, noun

Word Origin for ocellus

C19: via New Latin from Latin: small eye, from oculus eye

Scientific definitions for ocellus

ocellus
[ ō-sĕl′əs ]

Plural ocelli (ō-sĕl′ī′)

A small, simple eye or eyespot, found in many invertebrates.
A marking that resembles an eye, as on the wings of some butterflies.