Lens Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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lens

[lɛnz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

camera

A piece of glass or other transparent substance with curved sides for concentrating or dispersing light rays, used in cameras, binoculars, microscopes, and other optical instruments.

Synonyms

camera lens, objective lens, optical lens.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lens	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.
optical lens	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.
camera lens	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.
objective lens	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.

Examples of usage

The camera lens focuses the light onto the sensor.
She adjusted the zoom lens to get a closer shot.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

glasses

A thin curved piece of glass or plastic worn in front of the eye to improve vision.

Synonyms

contacts, eyeglasses, spectacles.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lens	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.
eyeglasses	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.
spectacles	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.
contacts	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.

Examples of usage

She needed to get new lenses for her glasses.
He cleaned his lenses to remove the smudges.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

physics

A piece of glass or other transparent substance that can change the direction of a beam of light.

Synonyms

optical element, prism, refracting material.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
lens	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.
optical element	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.
prism	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.
refracting material	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.

Examples of usage

The lens refracted the light and created a spectrum.
The scientist studied the properties of different lenses.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'lens'

The word 'lens' originated from the Latin word 'lentilis', meaning lentil, due to the shape of early lenses resembling a lentil seed. The use of lenses in optical instruments dates back to ancient times, with early examples found in ancient Egyptian and Roman artifacts. The development of lenses played a crucial role in the advancement of science and technology, leading to innovations in fields such as astronomy, microscopy, and photography.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,339, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

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4336 sovereign
4337 tide
4338 solving
4339 lens
4340 singular
4341 promises
4342 investors
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