Conjunctiva
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 A clear mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelid and the exposed surface of the eyeball or sclera.
"There is a third inner eyelid, highly developed and of beautiful mechanism: this is the nictitating membrane, or "winker" (nictito, I wink), a delicate, elastic, translucent, pearly-white fold of the conjunctiva. While the other lids move vertically and have a horizontal commissure, the winker sweeps horizontally or obliquely across the ball, from the side next the beak to the opposite."
- 2 a transparent lubricating mucous membrane that covers the eyeball and the under surface of the eyelid wordnet
Example
More examples"The eyes may remain open for such long periods of time that the conjunctiva and sclera may become quite dry and ulcerate."
Etymology
From 1540s late Middle English, borrowing from Medieval Latin conjūnctīva (“serving to connect, connective”, feminine), ellipsis of membrāna conjūnctīva (“conjunctive membrane”).
Related phrases
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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.