lens

American  

[lenz] / lɛnz /

noun

plural

lenses

1. 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.

2. a combination of such pieces.

3. some analogous device, as for affecting sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, or streams of electrons.

4. Anatomy. crystalline lens.

5. 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.

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verb (used with object)

1. Movies. to film (a motion picture).

Lens ¹ British  

/ lɑ̃, lenz /

noun

1. an industrial town in N France, in the Pas de Calais department; badly damaged in both World Wars. Pop: 36 206 (1999)

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lens ² British  

/ lɛnz /

noun

1. a piece of glass or other transparent material, used to converge or diverge transmitted light and form optical images

2. Also called: compound lens.  a combination of such lenses for forming images or concentrating a beam of light

3. a device that diverges or converges a beam of electromagnetic radiation, sound, or particles See electron lens

4. anatomy See crystalline lens

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lens Scientific  

/ lĕnz /

1. A transparent structure behind the iris of the eye that focuses light entering the eye on the retina.

2. 1. 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.

   2. A combination of two or more such lenses, as in a camera or telescope.

3. 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.

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lens ¹ Cultural  

1. A piece of transparent material, such as glass, that forms an image from the rays of light passing through it. (See focal length, refraction, and telescope.)

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lens ² Cultural  

1. A clear, almost spherical structure located just behind the pupil of the eye. The lens focuses waves of light on the retina.

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Other Word Forms

• lensless adjective
• lenslike adjective
• unlensed adjective

Etymology

Origin of lens

First recorded in 1685–95; from New Latin, special use of Latin lēns “a lentil” (from its shape); lentil

Example Sentences

The survey adopts a broader lens, including informal, direct help to individuals as well as donations to religious institutions.

From BBC

However, Baroness Kidron said it was "careless" of the prime minister to see the issue "through the lens of his own children".

From BBC

At one point, the man, who authorities describe as approximately between 5’9” and 5’10” with an average build, notices the camera on the front porch and tries to cover the lens with his hand.

From Los Angeles Times

Post leadership has framed the massive layoffs through a lens of data-driven business pragmatism rather than character considerations.

From Los Angeles Times

By filtering such a common feeling through a strange and delightfully unsettling narrative lens, “By Design” contends with our modern restlessness in far more memorable fashion than many big-budget, big-idea films of the last year.

From Salon

Related Words

• glass