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Ocellus

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o⋅cel⋅lus

[oh-sel-uhs]
–noun, plural o⋅cel⋅li [oh-sel-ahy] .
1. a type of simple eye common to invertebrates, consisting of retinal cells, pigments, and nerve fibers.
2. an eyelike spot, as on a peacock feather.

Origin:
1810–20; < L: little eye, dim. of oculus eye; see -elle
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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o·cel·lus   (ō-sěl'əs)   
n.   pl. o·cel·li (ō-sěl'ī')
  1. A small simple eye, found in many invertebrates, usually consisting of a few sensory cells and a single lens.

  2. A marking that resembles an eye, as on the tail feathers of a male peacock; an eyespot.


[Latin, diminutive of oculus, eye; see okw- in Indo-European roots.]
o·cel'lar (ō-sěl'ər) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ocel·lus
Pronunciation: O-'sel-&s
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural ocel·li /-'sel-"I, -(")E/
: a minute simple eye or eyespot of an invertebrate —ocel·lar /O-'sel-&r/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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