optical
UK: ˈɒptɪkəl | US: ˈɑːptɪkəl
adj. relating to sight or vision
adj. involving or using light, especially in scientific instruments
adj. designed to assist or enhance vision
The word "optical" traces back to the Greek root "optikos" (ὀπτικός), meaning "of or for sight," derived from "ops" (ὄψ), meaning "eye" or "face." The Latin adaptation "opticus" carried the same meaning, later entering Middle French as "optique." The English suffix "-al" (from Latin "-alis") was added to form the adjective, solidifying its modern usage in contexts involving vision, light, or visual technology. The morpheme "optic" retains its core meaning of sight, while "-al" generalizes it into an adjective.
The optical illusion tricked my brain into seeing movement.
Optical fibers are crucial for high-speed internet transmission.
She visited an optical shop to buy new glasses.
The microscope uses advanced optical technology.
His research focuses on optical properties of nanomaterials.