THIRD EYELID

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does third eyelid mean? 

• THIRD EYELID (noun)
  The noun THIRD EYELID has 1 sense:

1. a protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals

  Familiarity information: THIRD EYELID used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• THIRD EYELID (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting body parts

Synonyms:

nictitating membrane; third eyelid

Hypernyms ("third eyelid" is a kind of...):

protective fold (a flap of tissue that protects what it covers)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "third eyelid"):

haw (the nictitating membrane of a horse)

Holonyms ("third eyelid" is a part of...):

eye; oculus; optic (the organ of sight)

 Context examples 

A gland producing tears in a third eyelid in the corner of each eye, as seen in animals.

(Gland of the Third Eyelid, NCI Thesaurus)

A translucent membrane present in the eye of some animals, also called the third eyelid.

(Nictitating Membrane, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)