retinal
adjective · noun
Simple meaning
Relating to the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
rehtuhnuhlSay the bold part a little louder.
IPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɹɛtənəl
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
adjective
ophthalmologyrelational
In or relating to the retina of the eye
“The specialist examined her eyes for signs of retinal damage.”
ophthalmologyrelational
Of or pertaining to the retina.
noun
biochemistryorganic chemistry
Either of two yellow to red retinal pigments formed from rhodopsin by the action of light
biochemistryorganic chemistry
A yellow to orange aldehyde derived from vitamin A that is formed from rhodopsin by the action of light and in combination with proteins forms the visual pigments of the retinal rods and cones.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- C1 · Advanced (estimated)
- Frequency
- Uncommon
- Typical Use
- Neutral / general English
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: In or relating to the retina of the eye
Used this way, retinal is a common word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.
“The specialist examined her eyes for signs of retinal damage.”
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Common
- Connotation
- No strong connotation
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
Share your sentence
Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Tap the highlighted word to open its own entry.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Biometric identification by scanning the retina of the eye.
A visual receptor cell that is sensitive to dim light.
A red photopigment in the retinal rods of vertebrates.
Visual impairment resulting from the retina becoming separated from the choroid in the back of the eye.
A visual receptor cell in the retina that is sensitive to bright light and to color.
More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin
Synonyms
Sense: either of two yellow to red retinal pigments formed from rhodopsin by the action of light
Use This Word
See how this word sounds in a real sentence.
Ask Vocabaura
Understand the word your way.
What Does It Mean Here?
Words can change meaning depending on context.
Use it yourself
Keep learning “retinal” by choosing the kind of practice you need next.
- Practice sentence writingWrite sentences with vocabulary and get instant feedback.
- Practice in contextAnswer short vocabulary questions drawn from real situations.
- Review vocabularyTest your recall and strengthen words over time.
- Practice typingType vocabulary in short rounds that draw from words you've learned and saved.
Want to type words like this one without looking at the keyboard? Each typing round draws from words you've learned, saved or need to review. Follow the free Learn to Type lessons and type your own vocabulary with confidence.
Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.