zoom lens

American  

noun

1. (in a camera or motion-picture projector) a lens assembly whose focal length can be continuously adjusted to provide various degrees of magnification without any loss of focus, thus combining the features of wide-angle, normal, and telephoto lenses.

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zoom lens British  

noun

1. a lens system that allows the focal length of a camera lens to be varied continuously without altering the sharpness of the image See also telephoto lens

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Etymology

Origin of zoom lens

First recorded in 1935–40

Compare meaning

How does zoom-lens compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• telephoto lens vs. zoom lens

Example Sentences

Conventional cameras that use a zoom lens to magnify objects have the disadvantage of focusing only on the target object and not its surroundings.

From Science Daily

Dozens of zoom lens are trained on athletes as they do something as exciting as eat a banana or change a T-shirt.

From BBC

I then noticed some of his team-mates approaching him to celebrate the goal, so I switched back to a shorter zoom lens to make sure I captured all four players dancing.

From BBC

I was the one who suggested the Alhambra, so it comes down to whether we want a zoom lens or a wide angle.

From New York Times

It's a gravitational effect; the astronomical equivalent of a zoom lens for a telescope.

From BBC