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 lenses—
New Republic
New RepublicExamples of lens in a Sentence
Noun
Make sure the lens of the microscope is clean.
Recent Examples on the Web
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
The key is to evaluate innovations through the lens of your core competencies and values.
—Dan Gamble, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024
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 
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Noun
Per the official logline, The Pitt is a realistic examination of the challenges facing healthcare workers in today’s America as seen through the lens of the frontline heroes working in a modern-day hospital in Pittsburgh.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 21 Nov. 2024
The key is to evaluate innovations through the lens of your core competencies and values.
—Dan Gamble, Forbes, 21 Nov. 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
Dictionary Entries Near lens
Cite this Entry
“Lens.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lens. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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