cat eye: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1informal when referring to makeup; technical/specialized when referring to gemstones or road markings.
Quick answer
What does “cat eye” mean?
A makeup style using eyeliner to create an upward flick at the outer corner of the eye, resembling a cat's eye.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A makeup style using eyeliner to create an upward flick at the outer corner of the eye, resembling a cat's eye.
Any design or object that mimics the elongated, almond-shaped eye of a cat; also refers to a type of road safety marking (cat's eye) in British English, and certain gemstone cuts.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the US, 'cat eye' almost exclusively refers to makeup. In the UK, it can also refer to retroreflective road studs ('cat's eyes').
Connotations
US: Fashion, beauty, glamour. UK: Can also evoke driving, road safety, and engineering.
Frequency
More frequent in US English in beauty contexts. The road safety term is almost exclusively British/Commonwealth.
Grammar
How to Use “cat eye” in a Sentence
do a cat eyeapply cat eye linerhave cat-eye glassesVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cat eye” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to cat-eye her liner for the party.
American English
- I'm going to cat-eye my makeup tonight.
adjective
British English
- She wore vintage cat-eye spectacles.
American English
- She loves that cat-eye frame shape for her glasses.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in cosmetics/fashion industries (e.g., 'Our new cat-eye liner launch').
Academic
Rare; might appear in cultural studies of fashion or design history.
Everyday
Common in conversations about makeup, beauty tutorials, and fashion.
Technical
In UK civil engineering/transport: a type of retroreflective road stud. In gemology: a chatoyant gemstone cut.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cat eye”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cat eye”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cat eye”
- Using 'cat eyes' (plural) to refer to the singular makeup style on one person.
- Confusing 'cat eye' (makeup) with 'cat's eye' (road stud) in UK context.
- Misspelling as 'cat-eye' when used as a noun phrase.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is primarily informal, used in fashion, beauty, and everyday contexts. The technical term for the road device is more formal.
'Cat eye' (or cat-eye) usually refers to makeup or a shape. 'Cat's eye' (with apostrophe) in UK English specifically refers to the reflective road stud, or can be a gemstone term.
Informally, yes, especially in beauty communities (e.g., 'I'm going to cat-eye my liner'). It is not a standard dictionary verb.
It's pronounced as two separate words: /ˈkæt ˌaɪ/. The stress is roughly equal on both syllables.
A makeup style using eyeliner to create an upward flick at the outer corner of the eye, resembling a cat's eye.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'She gave him the cat eye' (a suspicious or sly look).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the sharp, upward point at the corner of the eye, just like a cat's alert, slanted eye.
Conceptual Metaphor
EYES ARE ANIMAL FEATURES (specifically feline features for allure, mystery, or sharpness).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would a British person most likely use 'cat's eye'?