optics

Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

op·tics

(ŏp′tĭks)

1. (used with a sing. verb) The branch of physics that deals with light and vision, chiefly the generation, propagation, and detection of electromagnetic radiation having wavelengths greater than x-rays and shorter than microwaves.

2. (used with a pl. verb) Informal The way a situation or action appears to the general public: Voters were put off by the optics of the candidate's financial dealings.

optics

(ˈɒptɪks)

(General Physics) (functioning as singular) the branch of science concerned with vision and the generation, nature, propagation, and behaviour of electromagnetic light

op•tics

(ˈɒp tɪks)

n. (used with a sing. v.)

the branch of physical science that deals with the properties and phenomena of both visible and invisible light and with vision.

[1605–15; < Medieval Latin optica < Greek optiká,optikós; see optic, -ics]

op·tics

(ŏp′tĭks)

The scientific study of light and vision.

optics

The study of light and its uses.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	optics - the branch of physics that studies the physical properties of light meniscus - (optics) a lens that is concave on one side and convex on the other natural philosophy, physics - the science of matter and energy and their interactions; "his favorite subject was physics" catoptrics - branch of optics dealing with formation of images by mirrors holography - the branch of optics that deals with the use of coherent light from a laser in order to make a hologram that can then be used to create a three-dimensional image stigmatism - (optics) condition of an optical system (as a lens) in which light rays from a single point converge in a single focal point astigmatism, astigmia - (optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal point collimate - adjust the line of sight of (an optical instrument) refract - subject to refraction; "refract a light beam" reflect - show an image of; "her sunglasses reflected his image" resolve - make clearly visible; "can this image be resolved?" aberrate - diverge or deviate from the straight path; produce aberration; "The surfaces of the concave lens may be proportioned so as to aberrate exactly equal to the convex lens"
	2.	optics - optical properties; "the optics of a telescope" property - a basic or essential attribute shared by all members of a class; "a study of the physical properties of atomic particles"

Translations

بصرباتعِلْم البَصَرِّات

optika

optik

Optik

optiikka

optique

optika

optikafénytan

ljósfræðiljósfræîisjónfræði

ottica

光学

광학

optikk

optyka

óptica

Оптика

optika

ทรรศนศาสตร์

ışık bilimioptik

光学

optics

[ˈɒptɪks] NSING → óptica f

optics

[ˈɒptɪks] n → optique f

optics

n sing → Optik f

optics

[ˈɒptɪks] nsg → ottica

optical scanner

noun

optics (ˈoptiks) noun singular

the science of light.

op·tics

n. óptica, ciencia que estudia la luz y la relación de ésta con la visión.

optics

n óptica

References in classic literature ?

I know of governors of places, and seneschals of castles, and sheriffs of counties, and many like small offices and titles of honor, but him you call the Science of Optics I have not heard of before; peradventure it is a new dignity.

View in context

At the time I will confess that I thought chiefly of the PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS and my own seventeen papers upon physical optics.

View in context

Photography has given us proofs of the incomparable beauty of our satellite; all is known regarding the moon which mathematical science, astronomy, geology, and optics can learn about her.

View in context

Yet those same bleared optics had a strange, penetrating power, when it was their owner's purpose to read the human soul.

View in context

Now came a pause of ten minutes, during which I, by this time in perfect possession of my wits, observed all the female Brocklehursts produce their pocket-handkerchiefs and apply them to their optics, while the elderly lady swayed herself to and fro, and the two younger ones whispered, "How shocking

View in context

They would sometimes alight upon my victuals, and leave their loathsome excrement, or spawn behind, which to me was very visible, though not to the natives of that country, whose large optics were not so acute as mine, in viewing smaller objects.

View in context

She screwed her dim optics to their acutest point, in the hope of making out, with greater distinctness, a certain window, where she half saw, half guessed, that a tailor's seamstress was sitting at her work.

View in context

And she raised her face, and gave me such a look of sorrowful tenderness as might have melted my heart, but within those eyes there lurked a something that I did not like; and I wondered how I ever could have admired them - her sister's honest face and small grey optics appeared far more agreeable.

View in context

To you, likewise, these optics are indispensable - yet I will convince you that my vision is more penetrating than your own.

View in context

The light from it had beat upon his sealed lids, and the eyes and the optic nerves had pulsated to little, sparklike flashes, warm-coloured and strangely pleasing.

View in context

There's no tint of pain, real pain, in the sensations of the optic nerve.

View in context

In the Articulata we can commence a series with an optic nerve merely coated with pigment, and without any other mechanism; and from this low stage, numerous gradations of structure, branching off in two fundamentally different lines, can be shown to exist, until we reach a moderately high stage of perfection.