lens en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (US) audio
- /lɛnz/
Etymology
Etymology tree substratebor.? Medieval Latin lēnsbor. English lens Borrowed from Latin lēns (“lentil”), with Medieval Latin later taking on the sense of “lens”, a semantic loan from Arabic عَدَسَة (ʕadasa, “lentil; optic lens”); the similar shape is the common factor.
Meanings
-
An object, usually made of glass, that focuses or defocuses the light that passes through it.
Not long ago, it was difficult to produce photographs of tiny creatures with every part in focus. That’s because the lenses that are excellent at magnifying tiny subjects produce a narrow depth of field.
2013 July-August, Catherine Clabby, “Focus on Everything”, in American Scientist:
- A device which focuses or defocuses other waves or radiation, such as microwave radiation, electron beams, sound waves (acoustic lenses), or explosions (explosive lenses).
- A convex shape bounded by two circular arcs, joined at their endpoints, the corresponding concave shape being a lune.
-
The transparent crystalline structure in the eye.
The single-imaging optic of the mammalian eye offers some distinct visual advantages. Such lenses can take in photons from a wide range of angles, increasing light sensitivity. They also have high spatial resolution, resolving incoming images in minute detail.
2013 July-August, Fenella Saunders, “Tiny Lenses See the Big Picture”, in American Scientist:
- (qualifier:earth science) A body of rock, ice, or water shaped like a convex lens.
- A convex layer of fresh groundwater that floats above the denser saltwater, usually found on small coral or limestone islands and atolls.
- A construct used in statically-typed functional programming languages to access nested data structures.
-
(broadly, figuratively) A way of looking, literally or figuratively, at something.
No film should be revised based on the lenses we now are, either voluntarily, or being forced to peer through.
2023 April 26, Benjamin Lee, quoting Steven Spielberg, “Steven Spielberg: ‘No film should be revised’ based on modern sensitivity”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:If "the public looks at the condition of America's children largely through a negative lens," worries Child Trends[…], "it may be more difficult to […] promote child well-being."
2004 April 11, Ann Hulbert, “Are the Kids All Right?”, in The New York Times Magazine, page 11:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| lens | Number=Plur | obsolete | lexicographic |
| lense | alternative, misspelling | lexicographic | |
| lentes | Number=Plur | rare | lexicographic |
| lenses | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
lenticular (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · microlens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · convex lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · twin-lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensatic (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · Barlow lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lentoid (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · zoom-lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · single-lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensectomy (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · water lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · Coddington lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · pebble lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · best form lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenshound (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · prime lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensfree (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenslet (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensmaker (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · eye lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · pancake lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · goniolens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · semilens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · wide-angle lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensman (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · kit lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · corrective lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · immersion lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · fish-eye lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensless (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · varifocal lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · long lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · achromatic lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · crystalline lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens board (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens louse (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · converging lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · objective lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · burning lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · field lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · gravitational lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · Petzval lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · corrugated lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenswoman (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · dual-lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensoidal (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · digital single-lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · sublens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · Mediterranean lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenser (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · standard lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · pickup lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · metalens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · hyperlens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensmaking (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · multiplying lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · macro lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · Fresnel lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · fisheye lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · circle contact lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · single lens reflex (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · shoot the lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · capsule of lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensoid (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · explosive lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensometry (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · magnetic lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · macrolens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · digital single-lens reflex camera (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · long-focus lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens blank (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens cap (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · contact lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lensmeter (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens flare (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lentil (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · telephotographic lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenticule (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · zoom lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · superlens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · ocular lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · narrow-angle lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · close-up lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · echelon lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · spot lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · circle lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lens brush (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenticel (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · normal lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · telephoto lens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · delens (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · lenslike (Terms derived from lens (noun)) · nanolens (Terms derived from lens (noun))
Descendants
Synonyms
freshwater lens · Ghyben-Herzberg lens
Translations (160)
nl kristallens (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ko 수정체 (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · fi mykiö (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ms kanta (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · uz linza (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · bn লেন্স (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · mk објектив (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · uk лі́нза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · fr lentille (geometry: convex shape bounded by two circular arcs) · vec lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · de Linse (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ru ли́нза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · el φακός (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sq lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nb linse (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · sh leća (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ca lent (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · be лі́нза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · hu szemlencse (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · fr lentille (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · bg ле́ща (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · bg леща (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · es luna (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sh објѐктӣв (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · he עֲדָשָׁה (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · fi linssi (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · fa عدسی (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · cs čočka (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ro linte (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · ga lionsa (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · it lentille (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · et lääts (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · az linza (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pl soczewica (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · fr lentille (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · is linsa (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sv objektiv (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · lv lēca (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · km កែវ (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · nl lens (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · sh objèktīv (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · hi लेंस (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · es lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sk šošovka (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · fi linssi (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · uk об'єкти́в (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · tr lens (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ka ლინზა (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · de Linse (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nn linse (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pdt Brellenglauss (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nn linse (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · pl soczewka (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · fr lentille (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · th แก้วตา (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · de Linse (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · tl paningob (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ru хруста́лик (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · cs čočka (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · lv lēcas (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · sv lins (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · lt lęšis (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ms lensa (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sl leča (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · id kanta (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · eo lenso (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · km កែវ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · be хруста́лік (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · da linse (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · eo kristalino (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ar عَدَسَة (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · bg кристалин (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · km មសូរ (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · es cristal (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ur مَنْظُور (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ky линза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · tk linza (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ur عَدْسَہ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sh со̏чӣво (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · fi linssi (geometry: convex shape bounded by two circular arcs) · fi poikkeutuskela (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · uk сочка (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sv lins (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pt lentilha (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · hu lencse (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · cmn 晶狀體 /晶状体 (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · vec lent (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ja レンズ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · hy ոսպնյակ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · my မှန်ဘီလူး (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · it lenticchia (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · cmn 透鏡 /透镜 (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nl lens (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nl lens (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · lv lēca (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · mk леќа (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · th เลนส์ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pl soczewka (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · sv lins (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · tr mercek (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pt lente (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · hu lencse (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · es cristalino (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · el φακή (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · lo ເລັນ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · uk со́чка (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · es luneta (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · fr cristallin (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ko 렌즈 (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · th แว่น (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · lv lēca (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · mk ле́ќа (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · id lensa (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · tg линза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · hu objektív (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · pt lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ar عَدَسَة اَلْعَيْن (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · nl lens (geometry: convex shape bounded by two circular arcs) · pl soczewka (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ja 水晶体 (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · pt cristalino (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ka ლინზა (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ru чечеви́ца (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · gl lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · tl lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · tr adese (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · el φακός (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · cmn 水晶體 /水晶体 (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · rsk лєнча (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · lo ແວ່ນ (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · sh sȍčīvo (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · kk линза (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ru ли́нза (geometry: convex shape bounded by two circular arcs) · sw lensi (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · eu leiar (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · nl linze (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · cmn 鏡頭 /镜头 (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · bg обекти́в (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ro cristalin (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · he עֲדָשָׁה (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · ka ოსპი (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · nb objektiv (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · el φακός (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · it lente (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nb linse (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · cs čočka (device which focuses or defocuses electron beams) · be аб'екты́ў (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · kmr hawêne (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · ro lentilă (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · de Linse (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · vec lenta (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · mn линз (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · vi thấu kính (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · uk кришта́лик (anatomy: transparent crystalline structure in the eye) · eu leiar (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · nn objektiv (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · no linse (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · fi linssi (biology: genus of the legume family; its bean) · ru объекти́в (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it) · cmn 鏡片 /镜片 (object focusing or defocusing the light passing through it)
wikidata: Q768575 · wikipedia: Medieval Latin · wikidata: Q3449157 · wikidata: Q146701