a blind spot; a permanent or temporary area of depressed or absent vision caused by lesions of the visual system, viewing the sun directly (eclipse scotoma), squinting, etc
2. psychology
a mental blind spot; inability to understand or perceive certain matters
Derived forms
scotomatous (skɒˈtɒmətəs)
adjective
Word origin
C16: via Medieval Latin from Greek skotōma giddiness, from skotoun to make dark, from skotos darkness
scotoma in American English
(skəˈtoʊmə)
nounWord forms: pluralscoˈtomata (skəˈtoʊmətə) or scoˈtomas
a dark area or gap in the visual field
Derived forms
scotomatous (scoˈtomatous) (skəˈtɑmətəs)
adjective
Word origin
ModL < LL, dimness of vision < Gr skotōma < skotos, darkness (see shade) + -oma