optical

[op-ti-kuhl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or applying optics optics or the principles of optics.

2. constructed to assist sight or to correct defects in vision.

3. of or relating to sight or vision; visual.

4. of or relating to the eye.

5. of or relating to an optician or opticians or to their products, especially eyeglasses.

   an optical service.

6. dealing with or skilled in optics.

noun

1. opticals. optical effects.

optical

/ ˈɒptɪkəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, producing, or involving light

2. of or relating to the eye or to the sense of sight; optic

3. (esp of a lens) aiding vision or correcting a visual disorder

optical

1. Relating to vision or the eyes.

2. Relating to optics.

3. Relating to or using visible light.

Other Word Forms

• optically adverb
• nonoptical adjective
• nonoptically adverb
• suboptical adjective
• suboptically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of optical¹

First recorded in 1560–70; optic + -al ¹

Example Sentences

Hitler, as the cliché goes, built the autobahns, and Nazi Germany developed technologies like synthetic fuels, optical equipment and space flight that were ahead of the Western democracies.

From Salon

Using optical and electron microscopy, Harris and his team determined the rock was a chondrite - the most abundant type of stony meteorite, according to Nasa - which meant that it was approximately 4.56 billion years old.

From BBC

Here, the Russian naval vessel appeared again in radar-based and optical satellite images, allowing us to confirm once again that it was a size and shape which matched the Boikiy.

From BBC

Newly released optical satellite imagery from Maxar shows the clearest picture yet of what happened at key Iranian nuclear sites at Natanz and Isfahan.

From BBC

According to the research paper, the participants looked into a device called Oz which consists of mirrors, lasers and optical devices.

From BBC