resolving power

American  

noun

1. Optics. the ability of an optical device to produce separate images of close objects.

2. Photography. the degree to which a lens or photographic emulsion is able to define the details of an image.

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resolving power British  

noun

1. Also called: resolution.  physics

   1. the ability of a microscope, telescope, or other optical instrument to produce separate images of closely placed objects

   2. the ability of a spectrometer to separate two adjacent peaks in a spectrum

2. photog the ability of an emulsion to show up fine detail in an image

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Etymology

Origin of resolving power

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

"This is unprecedented and entirely due to Webb's higher resolving power!"

From Science Daily • Nov. 8, 2023

A telescope’s resolving power depends on the width of its aperture.

From Economist • Jan. 7, 2016

Thus the microscope has more information to form a clear image, and so its resolving power will be higher.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015

The LBT’s resolving power is boosted even further when it is operated as a giant set of binoculars.

From Nature • Jul. 10, 2013

The contraction of the diffraction pattern with increase of aperture is of fundamental importance in connexion with the resolving power of optical instruments.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various