magnifying glass

American  

noun

1. a lens that produces an enlarged image of an object.

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magnifying glass British  

noun

1. a convex lens used to produce an enlarged image of an object

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Etymology

Origin of magnifying glass

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Kennedy studied one of the missiles with the magnifying glass.

From Literature

When Lennon climbed the ladder and looked through the magnifying glass, he made out the word “yes,” written in small letters on a canvas attached to the ceiling.

From Los Angeles Times

“Any little data point about profitability will obviously be looked at with a magnifying glass.”

From The Wall Street Journal

The paper was covered in flow charts, arrows and text so minuscule you almost needed a magnifying glass to read it.

From Salon

As most Angelenos will know, the further you move inland, the more the sun feels like someone’s shoved a magnifying glass in front of it.

From Los Angeles Times