magic eye
1
9.4
- noun
- Archaic
:
ojo mágico
Examples
-
You have the magic eye.
-
You got the magic eye, Hoyt.
-
The technician pointed to the magic eye on the oscilloscope, which displayed the light intensity clearly.
-
In the lab, the engineer used the magic eye to measure radiation levels accurately.
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The magic eye in this device helps users see variations in light intensity during experiments.
Synonyms
2
6.2
A device that senses light and makes an electric signal
1
5.3
A device that uses light to notice when people or objects move
1
8.1
A small device that lets more electricity pass when light hits it
1
4.1
A device with lenses or mirrors that helps you see things clearly
A device that makes a small electric signal when light hits it to detect or measure light
Surface Forms
Morphology
magic + eye
The combination 'magic' (special/unusual) + 'eye' (organ that sees) gives a general clue that this is something that 'sees' or indicates in a special way, so a B1 learner would likely infer it is a device or indicator. However the precise technical sense of a specific transducer showing intensity is not directly derivable from the words alone, so prior exposure is needed for the exact meaning.
Etymology
Magic eye comes from old radios and devices that measured signals, where a small glass tube glowed and its pattern changed as the signal got stronger or weaker. The bright eye looked almost 'magic', so people used the name for an indicator that 'shows how strong' a signal or light is.