lens
1 of 2noun
ˈlenz 
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 Republic6
: gravitational lens
lensed
ˈlenzd
adjective lensless
ˈlenz-ləs
adjective lens
2 of 2verb
lensed; lensing; lenses
transitive verb
: to make a motion picture of : film
Example Sentences
Noun Make sure the lens of the microscope is clean.
Recent Examples on the Web Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 The 42 refers to the size of the front lens in millimeters. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2022 Moreover, Sunny Optical has won the most orders for each type of lens. Chris Smith, BGR, 1 Aug. 2022 First, aperture—the diameter of the lens or mirror—always wins. Eric Adams, Popular Mechanics, 15 July 2022 At the heart of the lens is an Arm M0 processor and a Micro LED display with 14,000 pixels per inch. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 1 July 2022 With its basic 360 camera, the RS is shaped much like a GoPro, with screen to the side of the lens. Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 28 June 2022 One last point: Companies planning their digital journey must always look through the lens of a chief value officer to ensure tangible value creation and capture for any digital initiative. Sanjib Sahoo, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 McCarty argues too that only looking at bereavement policies through the lens of the death of family members misses a larger, more nuanced picture. Trey Williams, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2022 Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 11 Aug. 2022 Applying a human-centric, business design lens to how organizations operate can ensure that change initiatives are successful. Billy Seabrook, Fortune, 11 June 2022 By the 1960s, telephoto lens cameras with 16- and 35-millimeter film became the main means in which to study the lock. Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2022 The camera system is the big sell, with a 50-MP wide, a 50-MP ultrawide, and an exciting 64-MP periscope telephoto lens for getting some great zoom shots. Adam Speight, Wired, 28 Feb. 2022 The series, which is believed to be the first show to lens in the lush Faroe Islands, was previously pitched at the Berlinale Co-Pro Series market in 2019. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Jan. 2022 Our business lens on the world stands out even more these days with so much noise and distraction seeping into our lives via screens on wrists, walls and phones. . . . Elliot Kaufman, WSJ, 26 Jan. 2022 Nikon is adding a big telephoto lens to its mirrorless Z system. Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 19 Jan. 2022 Our business lens on the world stands out even more these days with so much noise and distraction seeping into our lives via screens on wrists, walls and phones. Almar Latour, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2022 See More
Noun
So yes, there is a bit more of a lens on him, in a way, than on her. Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Sep. 2022 The 42 refers to the size of the front lens in millimeters. Scott Gilbertson, WIRED, 22 Aug. 2022 Moreover, Sunny Optical has won the most orders for each type of lens. Chris Smith, BGR, 1 Aug. 2022 First, aperture—the diameter of the lens or mirror—always wins. Eric Adams, Popular Mechanics, 15 July 2022 At the heart of the lens is an Arm M0 processor and a Micro LED display with 14,000 pixels per inch. Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 1 July 2022 With its basic 360 camera, the RS is shaped much like a GoPro, with screen to the side of the lens. Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 28 June 2022 One last point: Companies planning their digital journey must always look through the lens of a chief value officer to ensure tangible value creation and capture for any digital initiative. Sanjib Sahoo, Forbes, 25 Aug. 2022 McCarty argues too that only looking at bereavement policies through the lens of the death of family members misses a larger, more nuanced picture. Trey Williams, Fortune, 24 Aug. 2022 Verb
The Fold 4 has three rear-facing sensors: a 50MP wide-angle, a 12MP ultra-wide, and a 10MP telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. Will Greenwald, PCMAG, 11 Aug. 2022 Applying a human-centric, business design lens to how organizations operate can ensure that change initiatives are successful. Billy Seabrook, Fortune, 11 June 2022 By the 1960s, telephoto lens cameras with 16- and 35-millimeter film became the main means in which to study the lock. Matt Blitz, Popular Mechanics, 29 Mar. 2022 The camera system is the big sell, with a 50-MP wide, a 50-MP ultrawide, and an exciting 64-MP periscope telephoto lens for getting some great zoom shots. Adam Speight, Wired, 28 Feb. 2022 The series, which is believed to be the first show to lens in the lush Faroe Islands, was previously pitched at the Berlinale Co-Pro Series market in 2019. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 28 Jan. 2022 Our business lens on the world stands out even more these days with so much noise and distraction seeping into our lives via screens on wrists, walls and phones. . . . Elliot Kaufman, WSJ, 26 Jan. 2022 Nikon is adding a big telephoto lens to its mirrorless Z system. Jim Fisher, PCMAG, 19 Jan. 2022 Our business lens on the world stands out even more these days with so much noise and distraction seeping into our lives via screens on wrists, walls and phones. Almar Latour, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2022 See More 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
Phrases Containing lens
Kids Definition
lens
noun
ˈlenz
1
: a clear curved piece of material (as glass) used to bend the rays of light to form an image
2
: a clear part of the eye behind the pupil and iris that focuses rays of light on the retina to form clear images
Medical Definition
lens
noun
variants also lense
ˈlenz
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
Geographical Definition
Lens
geographical name
ˈläⁿs
commune in northern France southwest of Lille population 35,032