I. ˈäptik, -tēk adjective
Etymology: Middle French optique, from Medieval Latin opticus, from Greek optikos, from optos (verbal of opsesthai to be going to see) + -ikos -ic; akin to Greek opsis sight, appearance, vision, ōps eye, face, ommat-, omma eye — more at eye
1.
a. : of or relating to vision
optic phenomenon
b. : dependent chiefly on vision for orientation
man is basically an optic animal
— compare osmatic
2.
a. : of or relating to the eye : ocular
the optic axis
b. : affecting the eye or an optic structure
3. archaic : relating to optics : optical
II. noun
( -s )
Etymology: in sense 1, probably translation of Italian ottica, from Latin optice, from Greek optikē, from feminine of optikos; in other senses, from optic (I)
1. obsolete : optics
2. : an organ of sight : eye — not used technically
3. : any of the lenses, prisms, or mirrors of an optical instrument
the optics of this instrument
interchangeable optics of quartz, glass, rock salt — R.A.Sawyer