lens

1 of 2

noun

1
a
: a piece of transparent material (such as glass) that has two opposite regular surfaces either both curved or one curved and the other plane and that is used either singly or combined in an optical instrument for forming an image by focusing rays of light
b
: a combination of two or more simple lenses
c
: a piece of glass or plastic used (as in safety goggles or sunglasses) to protect the eye
2
: a device for directing or focusing radiation other than light (such as sound waves, radio microwaves, or electrons)
3
: something shaped like a biconvex optical lens
lens of sandstone
4
: a highly transparent biconvex lens-shaped or nearly spherical body in the eye that focuses light rays (as upon the retina) see eye illustration
5
: something that facilitates and influences perception, comprehension, or evaluation
viewing the current legal battle … through partisan lensesNew Republic
6
lensed adjective
lensless adjective

lens

2 of 2

verb

lensed; lensing; lenses

transitive verb

: to make a motion picture of : film

Examples of lens in a Sentence

Noun Make sure the lens of the microscope is clean.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Research professor Daniel Kruger with the University of Michigan and University at Buffalo works with ethology, the study of human behavior through a biological lens. Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 4 Oct. 2024 But, in our community, families don’t view it through a political lens, but rather an opportunity to create great educational outcomes. Mary Jo Pitzl, The Arizona Republic, 3 Oct. 2024
Verb
The film will lens in January in the UK and hit theaters on June 26, 2026. Justin Kroll, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2024 Shooting locations have yet to be revealed but it is expected to lens in London. Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 3 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for lens 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'lens.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin lent-, lens, from Latin, lentil; from its shape

First Known Use

Noun

1673, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1942, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lens was in 1673

Dictionary Entries Near lens

Cite this Entry

“Lens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lens. Accessed 15 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

lens

noun
ˈlenz
1
a
: a clear curved piece of material (as glass) used to bend rays of light to form an image especially to correct vision or magnify an object
b
: a piece of glass or plastic used (as in protective goggles or sunglasses) to protect the eye
2
: a clear part of the eye that focuses rays of light so as to form an image (as upon the retina)

Medical Definition

lens

noun
variants also lense
1
: a curved piece of glass or plastic used singly or combined in eyeglasses or an optical instrument (as a microscope) for forming an image by focusing rays of light
2
: a device for directing or focusing radiation other than light (as sound waves, radio microwaves, or electrons)
3
: a highly transparent biconvex lens-shaped or nearly spherical body in the eye that focuses light rays entering the eye typically onto the retina, lies immediately behind the pupil, is made up of slender curved rod-shaped ectodermal cells in concentric lamellae surrounded by a tenuous mesoblastic capsule, and alters its focal length by becoming more or less spherical in response to the action of the ciliary muscle on a peripheral suspensory ligament
lensed adjective
lensless adjective

Geographical Definition

Lens

geographical name

commune in northern France southwest of Lille population 35,032

More from Merriam-Webster on lens

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