lens

The lens in these glasses are blue.

lens left to right: biconcave, plano-concave, concavo-convex, biconvex, plano-convex, and convexo-concave lenses

noun

The definition of a lens is a piece of glass or other hard clear material molded with one side flat and the other curved or both sides curved that forms an image by bringing together or spreading the light that passes through it.

An example of lens is the clear pieces covering the eyes in eye glasses.
An example of lens is what a camera uses to take photos.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

lens

1. a piece of glass, or other transparent substance, with two curved surfaces, or one plane and one curved, regularly bringing together or spreading rays of light passing through it: a lens or combination of lenses is used in optical instruments, eyeglasses, etc. to form an image
2. a combination of two or more such pieces
any of various devices used to focus microwaves, electrons, or sound waves
Anat. a transparent, biconvex body situated between the iris and the vitreous humor of the eye: it focuses upon the retina light rays entering the pupil

Origin of lens

L, lentil: from the resemblance to the shape of a lentil

to photograph
to make a film of

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

lens

noun

pl. lens·es

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.
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 .
A thin piece of glass or plastic, as on a pair of sunglasses, that transmits light without refraction.
A device or phenomenon (such as a gravitational field) that causes light or other radiation to converge or diverge by an action analogous to that of a lens.
a. A transparent, biconvex structure in the eye of a vertebrate or cephalopod that is located between the iris and the vitreous humor and focuses light rays entering through the pupil to form an image on the retina.
b. A similar structure in many invertebrates.

transitive verb

lensed, lens·ing, lens·es

Informal To make a photograph or movie of.
To bend or distort (light, for example) by means of a lens, especially a gravitational field.

Origin of lens

New Latin lēns from Latin lentil (from the shape of a double convex lens)

Related Forms:

lensed
adjective

lens

Light rays converge when passing through a biconvex lens (top) and diverge when passing through a biconcave lens (bottom).f indicates the focus.

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

A transparent structure behind the iris of the eye that focuses light entering the eye on the retina.
1. 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.
2. A combination of two or more such lenses, as in a camera or telescope. Also called compound lens
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.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

Proper noun

Lens f

A taxonomic genus within the family Fabaceae — the lentils.

Origin

Latin lens (“a lentil bean”)

English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

lens - Computer Definition

The glass or plastic elements that focus light onto analog film or a digital sensor in a still or video camera. Lens quality is just as important in digital cameras as it was in the Daguerreotype cameras in the 1800s. See digital camera and kit lens.

Computer Desktop Encyclopedia THIS DEFINITION IS FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY All other reproduction is strictly prohibited without permission from the publisher. © 1981-2017 The Computer Language Company Inc. All rights reserved.

Link/Cite

Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"lens." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 16 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens>.

APA Style

lens. (n.d.). Retrieved January 16th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Lens

lens - Medical Definition

n.

pl. lenses

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.
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. In this sense also called compound lens
A thin piece of glass or plastic, as on a pair of sunglasses, that transmits light without refraction.
1. A transparent, biconvex structure in the eye of a vertebrate or cephalopod that is located between the iris and the vitreous humor and focuses light rays entering through the pupil to form an image on the retina.
2. A similar structure in many invertebrates.

Related Forms: