n. (Astron.) an optical system used in some telescopes since the 1980's which rapidly changes the shape of the primary reflecting mirror to adjust for distortions of light which are caused by atmospheric turbulence. By reducing the distortions caused by the atmosphere, telescopes fitted with such optics can achieve a higher resolving power than normal telescopes with static mirrors. [ PJC ]

{ } a. [ Gr. a'ytoptiko`s: cf. F. autoptique. ] Seen with one's own eyes; belonging to, or connected with, personal observation; as, autoptic testimony or experience. [ 1913 Webster ]

adv. By means of ocular view, or one's own observation. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. balei^n to throw + stereopticon. ] See Projector, below. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Abbrev. from L. Aegyptius an Egyptian, Gr. &unr_;, Ar. kibtī, pl. kibt. ] Of or pertaining to the Copts. -- n. The language of the Copts. [ 1913 Webster ]

. The native church of Egypt or church of Alexandria, which in general organization and doctrines resembles the Roman Catholic Church, except that it holds to the Monophysitic doctrine which was condemned (a. d. 451) by the council of Chalcedon, and allows its priests to marry. The “pope and patriarch” has jurisdiction over the Abyssinian Church. Since the 7th century the Coptic Church has been so isolated from modifying influences that in many respects it is the most ancient monument of primitive Christian rites and ceremonies. But centuries of subjection to Moslem rule have weakened and degraded it. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Ent- + optic. ] (Physiol.) Relating to objects situated within the eye; esp., relating to the perception of objects in one's own eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. that branch of optics which studies the transmission of light through thin transparent fibers. Light transmission through optical fibers has become an important means of data and telephone signal transmission, in some areas superseding the carrying of vioce and data signals through electrical pulses over copper wire. It is also used for directly carrying images from otherwise inaccessible locations, as from inside the body, for medical procedures. Light transmission via fiber optics for data transmission uses an optical fiber made of specially purified glass with low light absorption characteristics. [ PJC ]

n. [ Hetero- + optics. ] False optics. Spectator. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } n. [ Gr. &unr_; the navel + &unr_; one who looks, &unr_; belonging to sight: cf. F. omphaloptre. ] An optical glass that is convex on both sides. [ Obs. ] Hutton. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From Optic, a. ] 1. The organ of sight; an eye. [ 1913 Webster ]

The difference is as great between
The optics seeing, as the object seen. Pope. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. An eyeglass. [ Obs. ] Herbert. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ F. optique, Gr. 'optiko`s; akin to 'o`psis sight, 'o`pwpa I have seen, 'o`psomai I shall see, and to 'o`sse the two eyes, 'o`ps face, L. oculus eye. See Ocular, Eye, and cf. Canopy, Ophthalmia. ] 1. Of, pertaining to, or using vision or sight; as, optical illusions. [ wns=2 ]
Syn. -- ocular, optic, visual. [ 1913 Webster + WordNet 1.5 ]

The moon, whose orb
Through optic glass the Tuscan artist views. Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Of or pertaining to the eye; ocular; as, the optic nerves (the first pair of cranial nerves) which are distributed to the retina; the optic (or optical) axis of the eye. See Illust. of Brain, and Eye. [ wns=3 ] [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Relating to the science of optics or to devices designed to assist vision; as, optical works; optical equipment. [ wns=1 ] [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

Optic angle (Opt.), the angle included between the optic axes of the two eyes when directed to the same point; -- sometimes called binocular parallax. --
Optic axis. (Opt.) (a) A line drawn through the center of the eye perpendicular to its anterior and posterior surfaces. In a normal eye it is in the direction of the optic axis that objects are most distinctly seen. (b) The line in a doubly refracting crystal, in the direction of which no double refraction occurs. A uniaxial crystal has one such line, a biaxial crystal has two. --
Optical circle (Opt.), a graduated circle used for the measurement of angles in optical experiments. --
Optical square, a surveyor's instrument with reflectors for laying off right angles. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) the ability of a chemical compound to rotate the plane of plane-polarized light. This is found only in chemicals whose molecular structure does not have a plane of symmetry, and is common in biochemical compounds. -- optically active adj. [ PJC ]

n. (Communications) a cable containing multiple optical fibers. [ PJC ]

n. (Communications) A thin fiber of very pure glass used to carry signals transmitted by means of light. It has much greater information-carrying capacity than a copper wire, and in the 1990's became a dominant means of transmitting telephone communications over long distances. [ PJC ]

adv. 1. By optics or sight. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. With reference to optics. [ 1913 Webster ]

Optically active,
Optically inactive (Chem. Physics), terms used of certain isomeric substances which, while identical with each other in other respects, differ in this, viz., that they do or do not produce right-handed or left-handed circular polarization of light. See optical activity. --
Optically positive,
Optically negative. See under Refraction. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. opticien. See Optic, a. ] 1. One skilled in optics. [ R. ] A. Smith. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who deals in optical glasses and instruments. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. optique, L. optice, Gr. &unr_; (sc. &unr_;). See Optic. ] That branch of physical science which treats of the nature and properties of light, the laws of its modification by opaque and transparent bodies, and the phenomena of vision. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. Including everying visible in one view; as, a panoptic aerial photograph of the missile base; a panoptic stain used in microscopy. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ NL. See Pan-, and Optic. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A prison so contructed that the inspector can see each of the prisoners at all times, without being seen. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A room for the exhibition of novelties. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Radio- + stereopticon. ] See Projector, above. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; shadow + &unr_; belonging to sight: cf. F. scioptique. See Optic. ] (Opt.) Of or pertaining to an optical arrangement for forming images in a darkened room, usually called scioptic ball. [ 1913 Webster ]

Scioptic ball (Opt.), the lens of a camera obscura mounted in a wooden ball which fits a socket in a window shutter so as to be readily turned, like the eye, to different parts of the landscape. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. See Scioptic. ] A kind of magic lantern. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The art or process of exhibiting luminous images, especially those of external objects, in a darkened room, by arrangements of lenses or mirrors. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. skwptiko`s, from skw`ptein to mock, to scoff at. ] Jesting; jeering; scoffing. [ Obs. ] South. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Scop"tic*al*ly, adv. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

n. [ NL. See Stereo-, and Optic. ] An instrument, consisting essentially of a magic lantern in which photographic pictures are used, by which the image of a landscape, or any object, may be thrown upon a screen in such a manner as to seem to stand out in relief, so as to form a striking and accurate representation of the object itself; also, a pair of magic lanterns for producing the effect of dissolving views. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One of the first three Gospels of the New Testament. See Synoptist. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. &unr_;: cf. F. synoptique. See Synopsis. ] Affording a general view of the whole, or of the principal parts of a thing; as, a synoptic table; a synoptical statement of an argument. “The synoptic Gospels.” Alford. -- Syn*op"tic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]