Nicol prism

American

[nik-uhl] / ˈnɪk əl /

noun

Optics.

one of a pair of prisms used to produce and analyze plane-polarized light in a polarizing microscope.

Nicol prism British

/ ˈnɪkəl /

noun

a device composed of two prisms of Iceland spar or calcite cut at specified angles and cemented together with Canada balsam. It is used for producing plane-polarized 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

Etymology

Origin of Nicol prism

First recorded in 1870–75; named after William Nicol (1768–1851), British physicist, its inventor

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.

On the table of the sahibs are scattered lots of Nicol prisms, lens and eye-pieces.

From New York Times

The rotation of the Nicol prism with the vernier is performed by means of an endless screw.

From Project Gutenberg

The circle revolving with the Nicol prism for changing the intensity of the star, has a diameter of 14 cm. and reads by means of two verniers to 6 min.

From Project Gutenberg

Among others, the carefully considered modifications of the Nicol prism which have recently been devised by Prof. S.P.

From Project Gutenberg

Let us now mount our Nicol prisms, and cross them as we crossed the tourmaline.

From Project Gutenberg

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023