cornea

noun

cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior see eye illustration
corneal
ˈkȯr-nē-əl How to pronounce cornea (audio)
adjective

Examples of cornea in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Your lenses and corneas may become thicker, and the eyeballs' pressure may change. — Erin Meanley, Parents, 5 Mar. 2026 Whitaker donated his corneas, four organs and his heart for research. — Francie Ebert, NBC news, 30 Apr. 2026 While eye rubbing may seem harmless, people who rub their eyes are at risk of infections or damage to their cornea. — Neelam Patadia, The Conversation, 27 May 2026 Sitting on his living room couch this week, Rodriguez said doctors told him the projectile that hit him in his eye damaged his iris, cornea and lens. — Ruben Vives, Los Angeles Times, 16 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cornea

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Medieval Latin (short for cornea tēla "horny web," cornea tunica "horny covering," translating Greek kerātoeidḕs chitṓn), from feminine of Latin corneus "horny" — more at corneous

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cornea was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

corne-
cornea
corneagen
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cornea.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cornea. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cornea

noun
cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and lets light through to the interior
corneal
-nē-əl How to pronounce cornea (audio)
adjective

Medical Definition

cornea

noun
cor·​nea ˈkȯr-nē-ə How to pronounce cornea (audio)
: the transparent part of the coat of the eyeball that covers the iris and pupil and admits light to the interior
corneal
-əl How to pronounce cornea (audio)
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on cornea

Nglish: Translation of cornea for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about cornea

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