cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior see eye illustration

corneal

ˈkȯr-nē-əl 

adjective

Examples of cornea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Risk factors for refractive errors include having an eyeball that is too long or short or problems with the shape of your cornea. —Vanessa Caceres, Verywell Health, 21 Nov. 2024

Poorly fitting lenses or those made with unsafe materials can block oxygen to the cornea, leading to complications like swelling or inflammation. —Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024

This can lead to serious eye infections like keratitis, an inflammation of the cornea caused by bacteria or fungi. —Alyssa Hui-Anderson, Verywell Health, 23 Oct. 2024

Healthcare providers use an ultrasound imaging device to measure the thickness of the cornea. —Mark Gurarie, Health, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin (short for cornea tēla "horny web," cornea tunica "horny covering," translating Greek kerātoeidḕs chitṓn), from feminine of Latin corneus "horny" — more at corneous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and lets light through to the interior

corneal

-nē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə 

: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior

corneal

-əl 

adjective