Lens: meaning, definitions and examples

This term is general and can refer to any type of curved glass or plastic that focuses light. It is used to describe parts of optical instruments, such as glasses, microscopes, or cameras. When the context doesn't specify the type, 'lens' is appropriate.

• I need to clean the lens of my reading glasses.
• The microscope's lens needs adjustment.

This term is used when discussing lenses in the context of optics and light manipulation. It is often used in scientific, technical, or medical contexts.

• The optical lens in the telescope allows us to see distant stars.
• Optical lenses are crucial in vision correction surgeries.

This term specifically refers to the lens used in cameras to focus light and capture images. It's typically used by photographers or in conversations about photography equipment.

• I bought a new camera lens for my DSLR.
• The camera lens captures the details beautifully.

Commonly used in microscopy, this term refers to the primary lens that is closest to the object being observed. It is a specialized term often used in scientific and educational contexts.

• The objective lens needs to be adjusted to get a clearer view of the specimen.
• A high-power objective lens can magnify small details.

A piece of transparent material that focuses or disperses light rays. Often used in photography, microscopes, and telescopes.

• The photographer changed the lens to capture a wider scene.
• She needed a stronger lens for her microscope to see the bacteria clearly.

A device consisting of glass or plastic lenses mounted in a frame, worn to correct or assist defective eyesight.

• She put on her eyeglasses to read the menu.
• He broke his eyeglasses while playing basketball.

Another term for eyeglasses, often used in formal or historical contexts. Can also have an old-fashioned or more dignified connotation.

• The professor adjusted his spectacles before starting the lecture.
• She found an old pair of spectacles in her grandmother's attic.

Short for contact lenses; small lenses placed on the eye to correct vision. Typically used in casual or personal settings regarding vision correction.

• He prefers to wear contacts instead of glasses during sports.
• She forgot to take her contacts out before going to bed.

Refers specifically to the part of the eye that focuses light onto the retina, often used in biological or medical contexts.

• The eye's lens becomes less flexible with age.
• The surgery involved replacing the cloudy lens in the patient's eye.

Used mainly in technical or scientific contexts to describe any component in an optical system that manipulates light, including lenses, mirrors, prisms, etc.

• The telescope has several optical elements to correct for aberrations.
• Researchers designed a new optical element to improve image resolution.

Refers to a specific type of optical element, usually a transparent geometric shape, used to refract or disperse light. Commonly mentioned in educational, technical, or scientific settings.

• A prism can split white light into its component colors.
• The experiment used a triangular glass prism to demonstrate refraction.

Used generally in scientific and technical contexts to describe any material that bends (refracts) light when it passes through it.

• When designing optical systems, choosing the right refracting material is crucial.
• Glass is a common refracting material used in lenses and prisms.