a piece of transparent substance, usually glass, having two opposite surfaces either both curved or one curved and one plane, used in an optical device in changing the convergence of light rays, as for magnification, or in correcting defects of vision.
a combination of such pieces.
some analogous device, as for affecting sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, or streams of electrons.
Anatomy. crystalline lens.
Geology. a body of rock or ore that is thick in the middle and thinner toward the edges, similar in shape to a biconvex lens.
a piece of glass or other transparent material, used to converge or diverge transmitted light and form optical images
Also called: compound lens. a combination of such lenses for forming images or concentrating a beam of light
a device that diverges or converges a beam of electromagnetic radiation, sound, or particles See electron lens
anatomy See crystalline lens
A transparent structure behind the iris of the eye that focuses light entering the eye on the retina.
A piece of glass or plastic shaped so as to focus or spread light rays that pass through it, often for the purpose of forming an image.
A combination of two or more such lenses, as in a camera or telescope.
A device that causes radiation to converge or diverge by an action analogous to that of an optical lens. The system of electric fields used to focus electron beams in electron microscopes is an example of a lens.
First recorded in 1685–95; from New Latin, special use of Latin lēns “a lentil” (from its shape); see lentil
A lens is a curved transparent device that bends light, like the lens of eyeglasses or a contact lens you’ll need if the natural lens in your eye needs help. Cameras have a lens, too. Smile! In an eye, the lens — which is behind the iris — helps focus light on the retina so you can see. It's a lot like the lens in a telescope or camera, which also focuses light and helps form images. You can also use the word lens as a metaphor for how you see things. If you look at sports through the lens of medicine, you might study injuries to players. All these lenses help you see or perceive things.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Wu worked with biologists and used dim red light and a customised fisheye lens to minimise disturbance.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
As an art-house film that satirizes American culture through the lens of a non-American like Inarritu, "Digger" was perhaps destined to be a heavy lift.
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
It was cropped and adjusted to improve contrast, and lens artifacts were removed.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 11, 2026
The Nobel Committee lauded Carson for her distinctive style that mixes classical scholarship, lyric poetry and avant-garde translation, often reimagining ancient Greek mythology and philosophy through a personal, contemporary feminist lens.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
I took the glasses from him and pressed my finger on the lens.
From "Wish" by Barbara O'Connor
He also denied participating in the student protests in his city of Lens.
From Barron's ● Oct. 14, 2026
For a rough estimate for what certain items in your home might fetch, try taking photos and then asking Google Lens, eBay Virtual Search or an AI bot like ChatGPT or Google Gemini.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
However, before returning to his homeland to play for Lens, he said "some stuff happened with my kids in the school" during his spell at Mexican side Club America.
From BBC ● Sep. 11, 2026
City will also be up against another of their former midfielders in Kevin de Bruyne when Napoli visit Manchester, with Sporting, Porto, RB Leipzig, AEK Athens and Lens their other opponents.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
"Why, this is strange," said the Lord of Lens to his companion, in a low voice, as they turned up towards the side of Douay, instead of taking the road to Tournay.
From Agincourt The Works of G. P. R. James, Volume XX by G. P. R. (George Payne Rainsford) James
‘I would say urgency means we’re going to look at every cost with aggressive lenses and with the lenses that everything that is not related to growth will not be part of the company.’
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
They placed the lenses over rabbit eyeballs immersed in a saline solution intended to mimic natural tears.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 29, 2026
Leica makes its lenses and assembles most of its cameras—including all its flagship M-series—in two factories, one in Portugal and another at its birthplace in Wetzlar, a hilltop village of half-timbered houses north of Frankfurt.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
These can visually display data inside the specs' lenses.
From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026
He was looking at her, his eyes large behind the lenses.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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