lens

[ lenz ]
/ lɛnz /

noun, plural lens·es.

a piece of transparent substance, usually glass, having two opposite surfaces either both curved or one curved and one plane, used in an optical device in changing the convergence of light rays, as for magnification, or in correcting defects of vision.
a combination of such pieces.
some analogous device, as for affecting sound waves, electromagnetic radiation, or streams of electrons.
Anatomy. crystalline lens.
Geology. a body of rock or ore that is thick in the middle and thinner toward the edges, similar in shape to a biconvex lens.

verb (used with object)

Movies. to film (a motion picture).

Origin of lens

1685–95; < New Latin, special use of Latin lēns a lentil (from its shape); see lentil

OTHER WORDS FROM lens

lens·less, adjective lens·like, adjective un·lensed, adjective

Definition for lens (2 of 2)

Len
[ len ]
/ lɛn /

noun

a male given name, form of Leonard.

Example sentences from the Web for lens

British Dictionary definitions for lens (1 of 2)

lens
/ (lɛnz) /

noun

a piece of glass or other transparent material, used to converge or diverge transmitted light and form optical images
Also called: compound lens a combination of such lenses for forming images or concentrating a beam of light
a device that diverges or converges a beam of electromagnetic radiation, sound, or particles See electron lens
anatomy See crystalline lens

Other words from lens

Related adjective: lenticular

Word Origin for lens

C17: from Latin lēns lentil, referring to the similarity of a lens to the shape of a lentil

British Dictionary definitions for lens (2 of 2)

Lens
/ (lenz, French lɑ̃) /

noun

an industrial town in N France, in the Pas de Calais department; badly damaged in both World Wars. Pop: 36 206 (1999)

Medical definitions for lens

lens
[ lĕnz ]

n. 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 transparent, biconvex body of the eye between the iris and the vitreous humor that focuses light rays entering through the pupil to form an image on the retina.

Other words from lens

lensed adj.

Scientific definitions for lens

lens
[ lĕnz ]

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.

Cultural definitions for lens (1 of 2)

lens

A piece of transparent material, such as glass, that forms an image from the rays of light passing through it. (See focal length, refraction, and telescope.)

Cultural definitions for lens (2 of 2)

lens

A clear, almost spherical structure located just behind the pupil of the eye. The lens focuses waves of light on the retina.