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
This amazing shot shows a double lenticular cloud lit up by the lava from the Villarrica volcano in Chile.
From BBC ● Feb. 4, 2025
At most, the movie takes his image from flat to lenticular.
From New York Times ● Feb. 14, 2024
I’ve gotten into a method of it because I’ve started specifically focusing on lenticular stuff, so I’m constantly thinking about how things can change and look differently.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2023
Achenes obovoid or lenticular, pappus none.—Herbaceous or shrubby coarse plants, with thickish leaves, the lower opposite, and small nodding greenish-white heads of flowers; in summer and autumn.
From The Manual of the Botany of the Northern United States Including the District East of the Mississippi and North of North Carolina and Tennessee by Asa Gray
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