Nictitating Membrane (Noun)
Meaning
A protective fold of skin in the eyes of reptiles and birds and some mammals.
Classification
Nouns denoting body parts.
Examples
- The gecko's nictitating membrane blinked rapidly as it watched a nearby insect for its next meal.
- When threatened, the chameleon's third eyelid, also known as the nictitating membrane, shielded its eyes for protection.
- Birds have a nictitating membrane that helps keep their eyes clean and protected, similar to how an eyelid works in humans.
- While some mammals do not have visible eyelids, they possess a nictitating membrane that functions in a similar way.
- A protective nictitating membrane shielded the frog's sensitive eyes from the sandy debris blowing through the arid landscape.