fresnel

[ fruh-nel, French frey-nel ]
/ frəˈnɛl, French freɪˈnɛl /

noun

a unit of frequency, equal to 1012 cycles per second.

Origin of fresnel

First recorded in 1935–40; named after Augustin Jean Fresnel

Words nearby fresnel

freshmanic, freshness date, freshwater, freshwater drum, freshwater pearl, fresnel, fresnel biprism, fresnel lens, fresnel mirrors, fresno, fress

Definition for fresnel (2 of 2)

Fresnel
[ fruh-nel; French frey-nel ]
/ frəˈnɛl; French freɪˈnɛl /

noun

Augustin Jean,1788–1827, French physicist.

Example sentences from the Web for fresnel

British Dictionary definitions for fresnel (1 of 2)

fresnel
/ (ˈfreɪnɛl, French frɛnɛl) /

noun

a unit of frequency equivalent to 10 12 hertz

Word Origin for fresnel

C20: named after Augustin Jean Fresnel (1788–1827), French physicist

British Dictionary definitions for fresnel (2 of 2)

Fresnel
/ (French frɛnɛl) /

noun

Augustin Jean (oɡystɛ̃ ʒɑ̃). 1788–1827, French physicist: worked on the interference of light, contributing to the wave theory of light

Scientific definitions for fresnel

Fresnel
[ frā-nĕl′ ]
Augustin Jean 1788-1827

French physicist whose investigations of the interference, diffraction, and polarization of light helped establish the theory that light moves in a wavelike motion. Fresnel also made great contributions to the field of optics, including the development of a compound lens for use in lighthouses.