Definition of the word eye

Pronunciation of vocabulary eye

eyenoun

mắt

/ʌɪ/

Definition of the word <b>eye</b>

Origin of the word eye

The word "eye" has a rich history. It comes from Old English "īg", "eag", or "ēa", which is thought to be derived from the Proto-Germanic "augiz", similar to the Modern German "Auge". This is also related to the Proto-Indo-European root "wekw-", which meant "to see". Over time, the spelling and pronunciation of the word evolved to "eye" in Modern English. Interestingly, the word's meaning has expanded beyond just referring to the physical organ. It can also refer to a point of view, a perspective, or a way of looking at something. In linguistics, the word "eye" is an example of a radical modification, where a word's form changes over time, but its meaning and function remain relatively constant.

Vocabulary summary eye

typenoun

meaningeye

meaning(botany) eye (on potato)

meaninghole (needle, shoelace...)

typetransitive verb

meaningstare

Example of vocabulary eyepart of body

meaning

either of the two organs on the face that you see with

một trong hai cơ quan trên khuôn mặt mà bạn nhìn thấy bằng

  • The suspect has dark hair and green eyes.

    Nghi phạm có mái tóc đen và đôi mắt màu xanh lá cây.

  • to close/open your eyes

    nhắm/mở mắt

  • to lower your eyes (= to look down)

    hạ mắt xuống (= nhìn xuống)

  • She rolled her eyes in disgust.

    Cô trợn mắt kinh tởm.

  • Keep your eyes shut!

    Hãy nhắm mắt lại!

  • There were tears in his eyes.

    Có những giọt nước mắt trong mắt anh.

  • I have something in my eye.

    Tôi có cái gì đó trong mắt tôi.

  • She had a haunted look in her dark eyes.

    Cô ấy có một cái nhìn ám ảnh trong đôi mắt đen của mình.

  • His eyes filled with tears.

    Đôi mắt anh đầy nước mắt.

  • The ending was so sad it brought tears to my eyes.

    Cái kết buồn đến nỗi khiến tôi rơi nước mắt.

  • I could see a pair of blue eyes peering out at me.

    Tôi có thể thấy một đôi mắt xanh đang nhìn chằm chằm vào tôi.

  • Her eyes widened in disbelief.

    Đôi mắt cô mở to đầy hoài nghi.

  • His eyes narrowed suspiciously.

    Đôi mắt anh nheo lại nghi ngờ.

  • Their eyes lit up when they saw all the presents.

    Đôi mắt của họ sáng lên khi nhìn thấy tất cả những món quà.

  • to make/avoid eye contact with somebody (= to look/avoid looking at them at the same time as they look at you)

    thực hiện/tránh giao tiếp bằng mắt với ai đó (= nhìn/tránh nhìn họ cùng lúc khi họ nhìn bạn)

  • All eyes were on him (= everyone was looking at him) as he walked on to the stage.

    Mọi ánh mắt đều đổ dồn vào anh ấy (= mọi người đang nhìn anh ấy) khi anh ấy bước lên sân khấu.

  • a feast/treat/delight for the eyes

    một bữa tiệc/ chiêu đãi/ niềm vui cho đôi mắt

Extra examples:
  • As my eyes accustomed to the darkness, I could make out a shape by the window.

    Khi mắt tôi đã quen với bóng tối, tôi có thể nhận ra một hình thù nào đó bên cửa sổ.

  • He drew the curtains to make sure no prying eyes saw what he was doing.

    Anh kéo rèm để đảm bảo không có con mắt tò mò nào nhìn thấy anh đang làm gì.

  • He held up the newspaper to shield his eyes from the sun.

    Anh giơ tờ báo lên để che mắt khỏi ánh nắng.

  • He let his eyes roam around the scene.

    Anh đưa mắt nhìn quanh khung cảnh đó.

  • He looked at me with a twinkle in his eye.

    Anh ấy nhìn tôi với ánh mắt lấp lánh.

meaning

having the type or number of eyes mentioned

có loại hoặc số lượng mắt được đề cập

  • a blue-eyed blonde

    một cô gái tóc vàng mắt xanh

  • a one-eyed monster

    quái vật một mắt

Example of vocabulary eyeability to see

meaning

the ability to see

khả năng nhìn thấy

  • A surgeon needs a good eye and a steady hand.

    Một bác sĩ phẫu thuật cần có con mắt tinh tường và bàn tay vững vàng.

  • Her skill at working with wood is coupled to a keen eye for design.

    Kỹ năng làm việc với gỗ của cô kết hợp với con mắt tinh tường về thiết kế.

Example of vocabulary eyeway of seeing

meaning

a particular way of seeing something

một cách cụ thể để nhìn thấy một cái gì đó

  • He looked at the design with the eye of an engineer.

    Anh ấy nhìn thiết kế bằng con mắt của một kỹ sư.

  • She viewed the findings with a critical eye.

    Cô ấy nhìn những phát hiện này với con mắt phê phán.

  • To my eye, the windows seem out of proportion.

    Trong mắt tôi, các cửa sổ dường như không cân đối.

Example of vocabulary eyeof needle

meaning

the hole in the end of a needle that you put the thread through

lỗ ở đầu kim để bạn luồn chỉ qua

Example of vocabulary eyeon clothes

meaning

a small thin piece of metal curved round, that a small hook fits into, used for fastening clothes

một miếng kim loại mỏng, cong tròn, có móc nhỏ nhét vào, dùng để buộc quần áo

  • It fastens with a hook and eye.

    Nó buộc chặt bằng móc và mắt.

Example of vocabulary eyeof storm

meaning

a calm area at the centre of a storm, etc.

một khu vực yên tĩnh ở trung tâm của một cơn bão, v.v.

Example of vocabulary eyeon potato

meaning

a dark mark on a potato from which another plant will grow

một vết đen trên củ khoai tây mà từ đó cây khác sẽ mọc lên

Words, synonyms, related vocabulary eye

Idioms of vocabulary eye

the apple of somebody’s eye
a person or thing that is loved more than any other
  • She is the apple of her father's eye.
    • as far as the eye can/could see
    to the horizon (= where the sky meets the land or sea)
  • The bleak moorland stretched on all sides as far as the eye could see.
    • bat your eyes/eyelashes
    to open and close your eyes quickly, in a way that is supposed to be attractive
    be all eyes
    to be watching somebody/something carefully and with a lot of interest
  • The kids were all eyes as he slowly unwrapped the package.
    • beauty is in the eye of the beholder
    (saying)people all have different ideas about what is beautiful
    before/in front of somebody’s (very) eyes
    in somebody’s presence; in front of somebody
  • He had seen his life's work destroyed before his very eyes.
  • Before our very eyes, the bird snatched the fish from the plate and flew off.
    • be up to your eyes in something
    (informal)to have a lot of something to deal with
  • We're up to our eyes in work.
    • a bird’s-eye view (of something)
    a view of something from a high position looking down
  • From the plane we had a bird's-eye view of Manhattan.
    • cast/run an eye/your eyes over something
    to look at or examine something quickly
  • Could you just run your eyes over this report?
  • I cast my eyes around the room but couldn't see any familiar faces.
    • catch somebody’s eye
    to attract somebody’s attention
  • Can you catch the waiter's eye?
    • clap/lay/set eyes on somebody/something
    (informal)to see somebody/something
  • I haven't clapped eyes on them for weeks.
  • I hope I never set eyes on this place again!
  • Tom fell in love the moment he laid eyes on her.
    • cock an ear/eye at something/somebody
    to look at or listen to something/somebody carefully and with a lot of attention
    easy on the ear/eye
    (informal)pleasant to listen to or look at
  • The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
    • easy on the eye
    (informal)pleasant to look at
  • The room was painted in soft pastels that were easy on the eye.
    • my eye!
    (old-fashioned, informal)used to show that you do not believe somebody/something
  • ‘It's an antique.’ ‘An antique, my eye!’
    • an eye for an eye (and a tooth for a tooth)
    (saying)used to say that you should punish somebody by doing to them what they have done to you or to somebody else
  • They advocate a justice system that works on the principle of an eye for an eye.
    • somebody’s eyes are bigger than their stomach
    used to say that somebody has been greedy by taking more food than they can eat
    feast your eyes (on somebody/something)
    to look at somebody/something and get great pleasure
    for somebody’s eyes only
    to be seen only by a particular person
  • I'll lend you the letters but they're for your eyes only.
    • get your eye in
    (British English)to practise so that you are able to make good judgements about a task or activity that you are doing
  • I've got my eye in now—the ball is landing just where I want it.
    • have an eye for something
    to be able to judge if things look attractive, valuable, etc.
  • I've never had much of an eye for fashion.
  • She has an eye for a bargain.
    • have your eye on somebody
    to be watching somebody carefully, especially to check that they do not do anything wrong
  • And remember, I'll have my eye on you so you'd better behave.
  • The store detective had his eye on a group of boys who were acting suspiciously.
    • to be thinking about asking somebody out, offering somebody a job, etc. because you think they are attractive, good at their job, etc.
  • He's got his eye on the new girl in your class.
    • have your eye on something
    to be thinking about buying something
    have eyes in the back of your head
    to be aware of everything that is happening around you, even things that seem difficult or impossible to see
  • You can’t get away with anything in her class. She has eyes in the back of her head.
    • have (got) eyes like a hawk
    to be able to notice or see everything
  • She's bound to notice that chipped glass. The woman has eyes like a hawk!
    • have one eye/half an eye on something
    to look at or watch something while doing something else, especially in a secret way so that other people do not notice
  • During his talk, most of the delegates had one eye on the clock.
    • have a roving eye
    (old-fashioned)to always be looking for the chance to have a new sexual relationship
    hit somebody (straight/right) in the eye
    to be very obvious to somebody
    in the blink of an eye
    very quickly; in a short time
    in somebody’s eyes
    in somebody’s opinion or according to the way that they see the situation
  • She can do no wrong in her father's eyes.
  • To Western eyes, it may seem that the city is overcrowded.
    • in the eyes of the law, world, etc.
    according to the law, most people in the world, etc.
  • In the eyes of the law she is guilty, though few ordinary people would think so.
  • In the eyes of the law his knife was an offensive weapon.
    • in the public eye
    well known to many people through television, newspapers, the internet, etc.
  • She doesn't want her children growing up in the public eye.
    • in the twinkling of an eye
    very quickly
  • Suddenly, in the twinkling of an eye, her whole life had been turned upside down.
    • keep a close eye/watch on somebody/something
    to watch somebody/something carefully
  • Over the next few months we will keep a close eye on sales.
    • keep your ears/eyes open (for somebody/something)
    to listen or look out for somebody/something that you might hear or see
    keep an eye on somebody/something
    to take care of somebody/something and make sure that they are not harmed, damaged, etc.
  • We've asked the neighbours to keep an eye on the house for us while we are away.
  • Could you keep an eye on my bag while I go to the toilet?
    • keep your eye on the ball
    to continue to give your attention to what is most important
    keep an eye open/out (for somebody/something)
    to look for somebody/something while you are doing other things
  • Police have asked residents to keep an eye out for anything suspicious.
  • I walked around the store, keeping an eye out for bargains.
    • keep your eyes open (for somebody/something)
    to look out for somebody/something that you might see
    keep your eyes peeled/skinned (for somebody/something)
    (informal)to look out for somebody/something that you might see
  • We kept our eyes peeled for any signs of life.
    • keep a weather eye on somebody/something
    to watch somebody/something carefully in case you need to take action
  • Keep a weather eye on your competitors.
    • look somebody in the eye(s)/face
    to look straight at somebody without feeling embarrassed or ashamed
  • Can you look me in the eye and tell me you're not lying?
  • She looked her father straight in the eye and answered his question truthfully.
  • I'll never be able to look her in the face again!
    • make eyes at somebody | give somebody the eye
    (informal)to look at somebody in a way that shows that you find them sexually attractive
  • He's definitely giving you the eye!
    • meet somebody’s eye(s) | meet somebody’s gaze, look, etc. | people’s eyes meet
    if you meet somebody’s eye(s), you look directly at them as they look at you; if two people’s eyes meet, they look directly at each other
  • She was afraid to meet my eye.
  • Their eyes met across the crowded room.
  • She met his gaze without flinching.
    • if a sight meets your eyes, you see it
  • A terrible sight met their eyes.
    • your mind’s eye
    your imagination
  • He pictured the scene in his mind's eye.
    • the naked eye
    the normal power of your eyes without the help of an instrument
  • The planet should be visible with/to the naked eye.
    • not bat an eyelid
    (informal)to show no surprise or concern when something unusual happens
  • She didn't bat an eyelid when I told her my news.
    • not believe your ears/eyes
    (informal)to be very surprised at something you hear/see
  • I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in.
    • not believe your eyes
    (informal)to be very surprised at something you see
  • I couldn't believe my eyes when she walked in.
    • not a dry eye in the house
    (humorous)used to say that everyone was very emotional about something
  • There wasn't a dry eye in the house when they announced their engagement.
    • not see eye to eye with somebody (on something)
    to not share the same views as somebody about something
  • The two of them have never seen eye to eye on politics.
    • not (be able to) take your eyes off somebody/something
    to find somebody/something so interesting, attractive, etc. that you watch them all the time
  • He couldn't keep his eyes off the girl sitting opposite him.
    • one in the eye (for somebody/something)
    (informal)a result, action, etc. that is disappointing or a defeat for somebody/something
  • The appointment of a woman was one in the eye for male domination.
    • only have eyes for/have eyes only for somebody
    to be in love with only one particular person
  • He's only ever had eyes for his wife.
    • open your/somebody’s eyes (to something)
    to realize or make somebody realize the truth about something
  • Travelling really opens your eyes to other cultures.
    • please the eye
    to be very attractive to look at
    pull the wool over somebody’s eyes
    (informal)to hide your real actions or intentions from somebody by making them believe something that is not true
    see, look at, etc. something through somebody’s eyes
    to think about or see something the way that another person sees it
  • Try looking at it through her eyes for a change.
  • Events are seen through the eyes of a Polish refugee.
    • see something out of the corner of your eye
    to see something by accident or not very clearly because you see it from the side of your eye and are not looking straight at it
  • Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him coming closer.
    • shut/close your eyes to something
    to pretend that you have not noticed something so that you do not have to deal with it
  • You can't just close your eyes to his violence.
  • They seem intent on shutting their eyes to the problems of pollution.
    • a sight for sore eyes
    (informal)a person or thing that you are pleased to see; something that is very pleasant to look at
    take your eye off the ball
    to stop giving your attention to what is most important
    there is more to somebody/something than meets the eye
    a person or thing is more complicated or interesting than you might think at first
    turn a blind eye (to something)
    to pretend not to notice something bad that is happening, so you do not have to do anything about it
  • The authorities were either unaware of the problem or they turned a blind eye to it.
    • under the (watchful) eye of somebody
    being watched carefully by somebody
  • The children played under the watchful eye of their father.
  • I want you under my eye.
    • what the eye doesn’t see (the heart doesn’t grieve over)
    (saying)if a person does not know about something that they would normally think was bad, then it cannot hurt them
  • What does it matter if I use his flat while he’s away? What the eye doesn’t see…!
    • with an eye for/on/to the main chance
    (British English, usually disapproving)with the hope of using a particular situation in order to gain some advantage for yourself
    with your eyes open
    fully aware of the possible problems or results of a particular course of action
  • I went into this with my eyes open so I guess I only have myself to blame.
    • with your eyes shut/closed
    very easily, without thinking about it
  • I've made this trip so often, I could do it with my eyes shut.
    • with an eye to something/to doing something
    with the intention of doing something
  • He bought the warehouse with an eye to converting it into a hotel.

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