lens (l nz)n. pl. lens·es 1. A ground or molded piece of glass, plastic, or other transparent material with opposite surfaces either or both of which are curved, by means of which light rays are refracted so that they converge or diverge to form an image. 2. A combination of two or more such pieces, sometimes with other optical devices such as prisms, used to form an image for viewing or photographing. Also called compound lens. 3. A device that causes radiation other than light to converge or diverge by an action analogous to that of an optical lens. 4. A transparent, biconvex body of the eye between the iris and the vitreous humor that focuses light rays entering through the pupil to form an image on the retina. tr.v. lensed, lens·ing, lens·es Informal To make a photograph or movie of.
[New Latin l ns, from Latin, lentil (from the shape of a double convex lens).]
lensed adj. | lens Light rays converge, passing through a biconvex lens (top) and diverge, passing through a biconcave lens (bottom). The label f indicates the focal point. |
lens Noun 1. a piece of glass or other transparent material with a curved surface or surfaces, used to bring together or spread rays of light passing through it: used in cameras, telescopes, and spectacles 2. Anat a transparent structure in the eye, behind the iris, that focuses images on the retina [Latin: lentil]
lens (l nz)1. A transparent structure behind the iris of the eye that focuses light entering the eye on the retina. 2. a. A piece of glass or plastic shaped so as to focus or spread light rays that pass through it, often for the purpose of forming an image. b. A combination of two or more such lenses, as in a camera or telescope. Also called compound lens. 3. A device that causes radiation to converge or diverge by an action analogous to that of an optical lens. The system of electric fields used to focus electron beams in electron microscopes is an example of a lens. | lens left to right: biconcave, plano-concave, concavo-convex, biconvex, plano-convex, and convexo-concave lenses |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. | lens - a transparent optical device used to converge or diverge transmitted light and to form imagesanastigmat - compound lens or lens system designed to be free of astigmatism and able to form approximately point images compound lens - a lens system consisting of two or more lenses on the same axis contact lens, contact - a thin curved glass or plastic lens designed to fit over the cornea in order to correct vision or to deliver medication eyepiece, ocular - combination of lenses at the viewing end of optical instruments field lens - the lens that is farthest from the eye in an optical device with more than one lens Fresnel lens - lens composed of a number of small lenses arranged to make a lightweight lens of large diameter and short focal length intraocular lens - an artificial lens that is implanted into the eye of someone to replace a damaged natural lens or someone who has had a cataract removed meniscus - (optics) a lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other eyeglass, monocle - lens for correcting defective vision in one eye; held in place by facial muscles | | 2. | Lens - genus of small erect or climbing herbs with pinnate leaves and small inconspicuous white flowers and small flattened pods: lentils | | 3. | lens - (metaphor) a channel through which something can be seen or understood; "the writer is the lens through which history can be seen"communication channel, channel, line - (often plural) a means of communication or access; "it must go through official channels"; "lines of communication were set up between the two firms" | | 4. | lens - biconvex transparent body situated behind the iris in the eye; its role (along with the cornea) is to focuses light on the retinaorgan - a fully differentiated structural and functional unit in an animal that is specialized for some particular function lens capsule - a tenuous mesoblastic membrane surrounding the lens of the eye | | 5. | lens - electronic equipment that uses a magnetic or electric field in order to focus a beam of electronselectronic equipment - equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor) |
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