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Glite Dictionary
eyespot

eyespot

1 7.4
A round mark like an eye on an animal that scares or confuses predators
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪˌspɑt/
translation icon : ocelo
  • Many species of butterflies display distinctive eyespots on their wings to ward off predators.
  • eyespots on their wings
  • eyespot color

Examples

  • The striking eyespots on the feathers of certain birds help them camouflage in their natural habitats.

  • Its distinctive markings are its eyespots on all four wings.

    Academic text (2005)

  • Whelks have a large pair of tentacles, each with a light-sensitive eyespot.

    Blog text (17)

  • So, could the eye have evolved bit by bit from eyespot to camera-type eye the way Dawkins portrays it?

    Blog text (8)

  • The butterflies of Iras talar sported red and gold eyespots, matched by the reddened gold of her hair.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • The peacock's magnificent tail is adorned with large, colorful eyespots that attract potential mates.

Synonyms

ocellus
vseyespot
  • Specialized
9.9

A spot on an animal that looks like an eye, often on feathers or wings

is the more common everyday term for that same ringed spot marking

How Eye-Like

ocellus
  • Specialized
9.9
eyespot
1 7.4
marking
69 3.0
spot
297 1.0
speck
66 1.3

Surface Forms

eyespot singular
eyespots plural

Morphology

eyespot = eye + spot (transparent) = eye + spot

The meaning is directly derived from 'eye' + 'spot' as an eye-like mark; straightforward compounding.

Etymology

The word eyespot comes from the parts eye and spot, meaning 'eye' and 'mark'. So an eyespot is a 'mark' that looks like an 'eye' and helps an animal scare or confuse attackers, which explains the modern use for the round, eye-like marks on butterflies and birds.