optical English · revision 10262

+ {{infobox|confidence=established|formation=derivation|attested=1570|origins=en optic}}

+

+ ==Pronunciation==

+ * IPA: /ˈɒptɪkəl/ ''(UK)''; /ˈɑptɪkəl/ ''(US)''^(Wiktionary)

+

+ ==Etymology==

+ It is [[optic]] with the suffix [[-al]].^(Etymonline)^(MWU 2024)^(SOED 2002)

+

+ ==Earliest recorded meaning==

+ Relating to sight, visual; relating to sight and the action of light; and treating of or skilled in optics: all 1570 in the OED, the 1560s in Etymonline.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Semantic evolution==

+ Constructed to assist the sight, as a lens or instrument, is from 1610.^(OED 1989) An ''optical illusion'' is attested by 1757,^(Etymonline) and in astronomy an optical double star, one that only appears double because the two lie in the same line of sight, by 1868.^(Etymonline) Use with electromagnetic radiation other than light is from 1933,^(OED 1989) ''optical brightener'' for textiles from 1947,^(OED 1989) and of a kind of abstract art using optical effects from 1964.^(OED 1989)^(Etymonline)

+

+ ==Timeline==

+ * 1570 – visual; of optics.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1610 – aiding sight.^(OED 1989)

+ * 1757 – optical illusion.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1868 – optical double star.^(Etymonline)

+ * 1964 – optical art.^(OED 1989)

+

+ ==Modern meaning==

+ ===Adjective===

+ # Relating to sight; [[visual]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Designed to aid sight, as a [[lens]].^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Relating to [[optics]] or to visible light.^(AHD)^(Collins 2023)

+ # Using light-sensitive devices, as an optical scanner.^(AHD)

+

+ ==Word family==

+ * [[optically]]

+ * [[nonoptical]]

+ * [[suboptical]]

+ * [[floptical disk]]

+ * [[optical activity]]

+ * [[optical art]]

+ * [[optical astronomy]]

+ * [[optical character recognition]]

+

+ ==Related words==

+ * [[optic]]

+ * [[optics]]

+ * [[optician]]

+ * [[optometry]]

+

+ ==References==

+ {{reflist}}