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  • fresnel
    fresnel
    noun
    a unit of frequency, equal to 10 12 cycles per second.
  • Fresnel
    Fresnel
    noun
    Augustin Jean, 1788–1827, French physicist.

fresnel

1 American  
[fruh-nel, frey-nel] / frəˈnɛl, freɪˈnɛl /

noun

  1. a unit of frequency, equal to 10 12 cycles per second.


Fresnel 2 American  
[fruh-nel, frey-nel] / frəˈnɛl, freɪˈnɛl /

noun

  1. Augustin Jean, 1788–1827, French physicist.


fresnel 1 British  
/ ˈfreɪnɛl, frɛnɛl /

noun

  1. a unit of frequency equivalent to 10 12 hertz

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Fresnel 2 British  
/ frɛnɛl /

noun

  1. Augustin Jean (oɡystɛ̃ ʒɑ̃). 1788–1827, French physicist: worked on the interference of light, contributing to the wave theory of light

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Fresnel Scientific  
/ frā-nĕl /
  1. French physicist whose investigations of the interference, diffraction, and polarization of light helped establish the theory that light moves in a wavelike motion. Fresnel also made great contributions to the field of optics, including the development of a compound lens for use in lighthouses.


Etymology

Origin of fresnel

First recorded in 1935–40; named after Augustin Jean Fresnel

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

But originally, he designed them for lighthouses — it’s the invention that’s said to have saved a million ships — and today, Lego has announced a motorized lighthouse with its very own fresnel lens.

From The Verge • Aug. 18, 2022

For fire starters he uses a fresnel lens, wax-coated matches.

From The Guardian • Aug. 2, 2017

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