aperture
noun
ap·er·ture ˈa-pər-ˌchu̇r 
ˈa-pə-,
-chər,
-ˌtyu̇r,
-ˌtu̇r
1
: an opening or open space : hole
entered the cave through a narrow aperture
2
a
: the opening in a photographic lens that admits the light
b
: the diameter of the stop in an optical system that determines the diameter of the bundle of rays traversing the instrument
c
: the diameter of the objective lens or mirror of a telescope
Synonyms
- hole
- opening
- orifice
- perforation
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
We entered the cave through a narrow aperture. The photograph was taken using a fast shutter speed and a large aperture.
Recent Examples on the Web After Hours character endures an extension of that briefly glimpsed metamorphosis, culminating in the monstrous reveal of a giant, red-jacketed man-toad bursting from an aperture in the wall. 
Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 The new TrueDepth front-facing camera, meanwhile, has a faster f/1.9 aperture, plus, for the first time, autofocus. Samuel Axon And Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 The widening of Hollywood’s aperture doesn’t just involve telling more female-focused tales. Brent Lang, Variety, 28 July 2022 Designed to be installed at the main shutoff valve of a home or business, the small, metal washer has a center aperture that measures just one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2022 The Pixel 6a features an 8MP lens with an f/2.0 aperture. PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 Outside of resolution, the Pixel 6 Pro's 26mm lens has an f/1.85 aperture. PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 The aperture is 15 feet from the condemned, situated in a corner of the room, according to a memo released last month by the prisons agency. Meg Kinnard, ajc, 23 Apr. 2022 Kuo said at the time that the selfie camera will support autofocus and come with an f/1.9 aperture. Chris Smith, BGR, 13 June 2022 See More
Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 9 Sep. 2022 The new TrueDepth front-facing camera, meanwhile, has a faster f/1.9 aperture, plus, for the first time, autofocus. Samuel Axon And Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 7 Sep. 2022 The widening of Hollywood’s aperture doesn’t just involve telling more female-focused tales. Brent Lang, Variety, 28 July 2022 Designed to be installed at the main shutoff valve of a home or business, the small, metal washer has a center aperture that measures just one-sixteenth of an inch in diameter. Los Angeles Times, 7 June 2022 The Pixel 6a features an 8MP lens with an f/2.0 aperture. PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 Outside of resolution, the Pixel 6 Pro's 26mm lens has an f/1.85 aperture. PCMAG, 2 Aug. 2022 The aperture is 15 feet from the condemned, situated in a corner of the room, according to a memo released last month by the prisons agency. Meg Kinnard, ajc, 23 Apr. 2022 Kuo said at the time that the selfie camera will support autofocus and come with an f/1.9 aperture. Chris Smith, BGR, 13 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English, borrowed from Latin apertūra, from apertus, past participle of aperīre "to open" + -ūra -ure — more at aperient
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
aperture
noun
ap·er·ture ˈa-pər-ˌchu̇r
: an opening or open space : hole
Medical Definition
aperture
noun
ap·er·ture ˈap-ə(r)-ˌchu̇(ə)r, -chər, -ˌt(y)u̇(ə)r
1
: an opening or open space
2
: the diameter of the stop in an optical system that determines the diameter of the bundle of rays traversing the instrument
apertures
noun
as in holes
a place in a surface allowing passage into or through a thing you can adjust the aperture on this camera's lens by pushing this button Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- holes
- openings
- orifices
- crevices
- perforations
- slits
- spaces
- fissures
- slots
- cracks
- inlets
- pores
- loopholes
- vents
- punches
- notches
- clefts
- pinholes
- tears
- gashes
- entrances
- intakes
- rifts
- outlets
- mouths
- ruptures
- crannies
- rents
- punctures
- slashes
- chinks
- cuts
- exits
- splits
- keyholes
- breaches
- peepholes
- buttonholes
- potholes
- airholes
- wormholes
- pinpricks
- breaks
- knotholes
- armholes
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- seals
- patches
- plugs
- barriers
- obstructions
- fillers
- stoppers
- obstacles
- fillings
- fills
- blockages