n.
Pronunciation: ˌ zir- ˌ äf- ' thal-m ē - ə , - ˌ äp- ' thal-
Function: noun
Etymology: Late Latin, from Greek x ē rophthalmia, from x ē r- xer- + ophthalmia ophthalmia
Date: circa 1656
: a dry thickened lusterless condition of the eyeball resulting especially from a severe systemic deficiency of vitamin A
– xe · roph · thal · mic \ -mik \ adjective