ocellated

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   marked with rounded, eye-shaped spots called ocelli

   The butterfly's ocellated wings may startle a predator by resembling a pair of large eyes.

2. 2
   adj

   zoology: bearing one or more simple eyes called ocelli

   The researcher examined the ocellated region on the insect's head under a microscope.

From New Latin ocellatus 'provided with little eyes,' from Latin ocellus 'little eye,' the diminutive of oculus 'eye,' plus English -ed. In zoological description, the 'eyes' may be actual simple visual organs or merely circular markings that resemble them.

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