ommatidium

[ om-uh-tid-ee-uh m ]
/ ˌɒm əˈtɪd i əm /

noun, plural om·ma·tid·i·a [om-uh-tid-ee-uh] /ˌɒm əˈtɪd i ə/. Zoology.

one of the radial elements composing a compound eye.

Origin of ommatidium

1880–85; < New Latin < Greek ommat- (stem of ómma eye) + New Latin -idium -idium

OTHER WORDS FROM ommatidium

om·ma·tid·i·al, adjective

Words nearby ommatidium

omissive, omit, omiya, omm, ommateum, ommatidium, ommatophore, ommiad, omn. bih., omn. hor., omn. man.

Example sentences from the Web for ommatidia

British Dictionary definitions for ommatidia

ommatidium
/ (ˌɒməˈtɪdɪəm) /

noun plural -tidia (-ˈtɪdɪə)

any of the numerous cone-shaped units that make up the compound eyes of some arthropods

Derived forms of ommatidium

ommatidial, adjective

Word Origin for ommatidium

C19: via New Latin from Greek ommatidion, from omma eye

Scientific definitions for ommatidia

ommatidium
[ ŏm′ə-tĭd′ē-əm ]

Plural ommatidia

One of the tiny light-sensitive parts of the compound eye of insects and other arthropods. An ommatidium resembles a single simplified eye. See more at compound eye.