Pronunciation

/lens/

Definitions

• Noun (n): A piece of glass or other transparent material with curved sides that refracts light and is used either singly (as in a magnifying glass) or in pairs (as in spectacles) to help vision, correct ametropia, or produce magnified or distorted images. For example: “The photographer adjusted the focus on her camera lens.”
• Noun (n): In biology, it refers to a crystalline structure within the eye that focuses light onto the retina, such as the cornea and the crystalline lens of the eye. For example: “Cataracts cloud the natural lens of the eye.”
• Noun (n): Metaphorically, it can also mean a perspective or way of viewing something. For example: “Through the lens of gender equality, we can better understand societal issues.”

Phrases

• “Zoom lens”: A camera lens that can change its focal length, thus adjusting the magnification of the image.
• “Contact lens”: A thin, usually plastic lens placed directly on the surface of the eye to correct vision.
• “In the lens of”: When referring to a particular viewpoint or analysis, e.g., “Through the lens of critical theory.”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The astronomer peered through the powerful telescope lens to study distant galaxies.”
• Noun (biology): “After surgery, the patient’s artificial lens was successfully implanted in her eye.”
• Metaphorical use: “Through the lens of cultural relativism, we can appreciate diverse customs around the world.”

Synonyms

• Optical lens
• Glass (informal, for a single lens)
• Vision aid
• Perspective
• Viewpoint (in the metaphorical sense)