compound eye: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Technical/Scientific
Quick answer
What does “compound eye” mean?
An eye consisting of numerous small visual units (ommatidia) that combine to form a single composite image, common in arthropods like insects and crustaceans.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An eye consisting of numerous small visual units (ommatidia) that combine to form a single composite image, common in arthropods like insects and crustaceans.
Occasionally used metaphorically to describe a complex, multifaceted system of observation or perception.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No lexical or orthographic differences.
Connotations
Identical, purely scientific.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and technical in both dialects.
Grammar
How to Use “compound eye” in a Sentence
The [ARTHROPOD] has a compound eye.A compound eye is composed of [NUMBER] ommatidia.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “compound eye” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The compound-eye structure is remarkably efficient.
American English
- Compound-eye vision differs from our own.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology, zoology, entomology texts and research.
Everyday
Rare, only in discussions about insects or nature documentaries.
Technical
The primary context of use.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “compound eye”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “compound eye”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “compound eye”
- Using 'complex eye' as a direct synonym (it's vague).
- Pluralizing 'eye' incorrectly when referring to one structure (e.g., 'compound eyes of a fly' – a fly has two compound eyes).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, humans have camera eyes. Compound eyes are characteristic of arthropods.
Yes, it is considered a single visual organ composed of many individual units called ommatidia.
It provides a very wide field of view and is excellent at detecting movement.
Yes, an organism typically has a pair of compound eyes (e.g., 'The beetle's compound eyes were large and dark').
An eye consisting of numerous small visual units (ommatidia) that combine to form a single composite image, common in arthropods like insects and crustaceans.
Compound eye is usually technical/scientific in register.
Compound eye: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒmpaʊnd aɪ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːmpaʊnd aɪ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a house 'compound' with many buildings forming one community, just like many lenses form one 'compound eye'.
Conceptual Metaphor
A NETWORK OF CAMERAS → The compound eye functions as a decentralized network of sensors creating a unified picture.
Practice
Quiz
Which animal is most likely to have a compound eye?