compound eye

compound eye

n.

The eye of most insects and some crustaceans, which is composed of many light-sensitive elements, each having its own refractive system and each forming a portion of an image.

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compound eye

An eye consisting of hundreds or thousands of tiny light-sensitive parts (called ommatidia), with each part serving to focus light on the retina to create a portion of an image. Most insects and some crustaceans have compound eyes.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

compound eye - in insects and some crustaceans: composed of many light-sensitive elements each forming a portion of an image eye, oculus, optic - the organ of sight ommatidium - any of the numerous small cone-shaped eyes that make up the compound eyes of some arthropods