oculus
1
8.6
- noun
- /ˈɑːkjələs/
- Specialized
:
óculo
- I thought the most interesting thing you said was that the big hole in the ceiling, which is called the Oculus, sounds right.
Examples
-
Leave feeling slightly annoyed by Buren's color window appliqués in side galleries and even in the oculus.
Academic text (2006) -
Sunlight streams through the Oculus and overhead the rosettes in the Dome sparkle like stars.
-
Look, honey, the oculus.
-
The oculus is taking shape above the main building, and the underground work is progressing apace.
Blog text (11) -
From the viewer's vantage point, this upper section of the shrine crosses in front of the lower part of the pendentive oculus.
Academic text (1995) -
Like the Christ at the center of the oculus in the Seven Deadly Sins, this Man of Sorrows figure, wearing a royal red robe, displays his wounds before the golden background.
Academic text (2001) -
Thus, as the pilgrim moves forward down the nave, the open center of the altar's artificial radiance would rise in front of the glazed oculus and be lit from the rear by the natural light source.
Academic text (1995) -
The aureole surrounding the cross at the top is visually linked with the background pendentive and its oculus, bracketed by the sweeping soffits of the adjacent arches.
Academic text (1995) -
As I stood in the rotunda, I marveled at the beautiful oculus that let sunlight pour into the grand space.
-
The ancient temple featured an impressive oculus at the top of its dome, allowing light to illuminate the interior.
Synonyms
4
7.0
An opening in a surface or structure, like a hole in a wall
A small round window in a roof that lets light into the room
Compounds
How Small
Surface Forms
Etymology
Oculus was also used for a round opening in a dome because it looks like an 'eye' for the building. The Latin oculus means 'eye', so an architectural oculus is the building's 'eye' that lets light and air in.