magnifying glass

American  

noun

• magnifying glasses
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• magnifying glasses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of magnifying glass

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

magnifying glass

"I think we're going to be the first ones under the magnifying glass being looked at," Acaster said over suspicions one will be a traitor.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Although college programs dedicate countless man-hours to cracking any secret in their opponents’ plans, turning the magnifying glass toward their own habits is a far greater challenge.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 16, 2026

Ternus was on the road at the supplier’s facility, and sometime after midnight he pulled out a magnifying glass to count the circles, finding that the supplier had gotten it wrong, putting in 35 grooves.

From Barron's ● Apr. 22, 2026

Do you really think that foreign governments are at this point, with a magnifying glass, looking at our markets and thinking something might be about to happen?

From Slate ● Mar. 31, 2026

All she could see was a paperback book, a magazine, and...a magnifying glass.

From "The Cinderella Ballet Mystery: Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew, #4" by Carolyn Keene