adjective / noun
visual
VIZH-oo-uhl/ˈvɪʒuəl/
Relating to sight or things perceived through sight.
The teacher uses visual instructions to show how planting works.
Etymology
The pieces mean “relating to sight.” The word describes both the faculty of seeing and what that faculty perceives, linking vision itself with visible objects.
In context
another bug in our visual programming: And it’s just that our cones can just get tired. If you stare long enough at a brightly colored image, your cones will receive the same stimulus for too long, and basically stop responding.
More examples
- A visual inspection reveals cracks in the wall.
- Flashing lights provide visual cues for people who cannot hear the alarm.
- She uses simple visuals to explain how the heart works.
Forms
visual · visuals
visually adverb — In a way perceived through sight.
visualize verb — To form a mental image of something.
Similar words
- optical
- Specifically concerns light, vision, or devices that aid sight.
- pictorial
- Specifically involves pictures rather than everything perceived through sight.
- image
- Names a picture without implying its use to present information.