eye

(ī)

1. An organ of vision or of light sensitivity.
2. a. Either of a pair of hollow structures located in bony sockets of the skull, functioning together or independently, each having a lens capable of focusing incident light on an internal photosensitive retina from which nerve impulses are sent to the brain; the vertebrate organ of vision.
   b. The external, visible portion of this organ together with its associated structures, especially the eyelids, eyelashes, and eyebrows.
   c. The pigmented iris of this organ.
3. The faculty of seeing; vision.
4. The ability to make intellectual or aesthetic judgments: has a good eye for understated fashion.
5. a. A way of regarding something; a point of view: To my eye, the decorations are excellent.
   b. Attention: The lavish window display immediately got my eye.
   c. Watchful attention or supervision: always under his boss's eye; kept an eye on her valuables.
6. Something suggestive of the vertebrate organ of vision, especially:
   a. An opening in a needle.
   b. The aperture of a camera.
   c. A loop, as of metal, rope, or thread.
   d. A circular marking on a peacock's feather.
   e. Chiefly Southern U.S. The round flat cover over the hole on the top of a wood-burning stove. Also called regionally cap¹, griddle.
7. A photosensitive device, such as a photoelectric cell.
8. Botany
   a. A bud on a twig or tuber: the eye of a potato.
   b. The often differently colored center of the corolla of some flowers.
9. a. Meteorology The circular area of relative calm at the center of a cyclone.
   b. The center or focal point of attention or action: right in the eye of the controversy.
10. Informal A detective, especially a private investigator.
11. A choice center cut of meat, as of beef: eye of the round.

1. To look at: eyed the passing crowd with indifference.
2. To watch closely: eyed the shark's movements.
3. To supply with an eye.

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eye

cross section of a human eye