lenticular
Americanadjective
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of or relating to a lens.
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biconvex; convexo-convex.
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resembling the seed of a lentil in form; lentil-shaped.
adjective
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Also: lentoid. shaped like a biconvex lens
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of or concerned with a lens or lenses
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shaped like a lentil seed
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of or relating to a galaxy with a large central bulge, small disc, but no spiral arms, intermediate in shape between spiral and elliptical galaxies
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of lenticular
1375–1425; late Middle English < Latin lenticulāris lentillike, equivalent to lenticul ( a ) ( see lenticle) + -āris -ar 1
Explanation
The adjective lenticular describes things with a round shape that's thinner on the edges and widest in the middle, like a lentil. A classic flying saucer is also lenticular. Lenticular is sometimes defined as "lens-shaped," and its Latin root is lens, "lentil." A double-convex lens is shaped like a lentil (imagine two spoons facing each other to get the idea). Lenticular can describe that particular shape, like a lenticular cloud formation. It can also mean "relating to a lens," so eye doctors diagnose conditions like lenticular astigmatism, which affects the eye's lens and causes blurred vision.
Vocabulary lists containing lenticular
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.
The “Transamerica” DVD even featured a lenticular cover that transformed Huffman from a standard blonde press shot into a still from the film featuring Bree’s brunette hair and wispy bangs.
From Salon ● Aug. 28, 2026
Shirley wears Leeann Huang lenticular dress and shoes, Mary Quant tights and l.a.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2025
What has been observed may look like flying saucers but they are actually lenticular clouds, also referred to by some as pancake or UFO clouds.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2025
For its new exhibition, “The End of Fossil Fuel,” one lenticular map displays the world in shades of black, white and gray.
From New York Times ● Dec. 29, 2023
A sphere of ice rather more than sufficient to fill the lenticular space was placed between the pieces of wood and subjected to the action of a small hydraulic press.
From The Glaciers of the Alps Being a narrative of excursions and ascents, etc. by John Tyndall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
