lens
lens — noun
1. A piece of curved glass or other clear material that brings light rays together
A piece of curved glass or other clear material that brings light rays together or spreads them apart, used in things like cameras, glasses, telescopes, and microscopes to make images appear clearer, larger, or smaller.
Mia cleaned the camera lens with a soft cloth before taking the photo.
collocation: clean a lens / scratch a lens
The telescope lens was cracked, so the stars appeared blurry to Tunde.
A magnifying lens uses its curved surface to make small objects look much bigger.
Yumi's phone has three lenses on the back for wide, close-up, and zoom shots.
The optician replaced the broken lens in Adina's glasses within an hour.
- optic
Technical term for an optical lens or component, used mainly in scientific or formal writing
文法句型
lens + for [purpose]
lens of [device]
用法筆記
Frequently combined with a noun describing the device (camera lens, eyeglass lens, microscope lens) or the purpose (zoom lens, wide-angle lens).
常見錯誤
2. A very small, thin piece of clear plastic that is worn directly on the surface o
A very small, thin piece of clear plastic that is worn directly on the surface of the eye to help a person see more clearly, as an alternative to wearing glasses.
Folake takes out her contact lenses every night before she goes to sleep.
verb pattern: take out + contact lenses
Roya prefers contact lenses over glasses because they do not fog up during exercise.
The eye doctor showed Iker how to place a contact lens gently onto his eye.
Tanvi dropped a contact lens onto the bathroom floor and carefully searched for it.
Wearing contact lenses means cleaning them every night with a special solution.
- contact
Informal short form of 'contact lens', common in casual speech ('I need new contacts').
文法句型
wear + contact lenses
put in + contact lenses
take out + contact lenses
用法筆記
Almost always used in the plural form 'contact lenses' even when referring to a single pair. Use 'contact lens' (singular) when referring to one individual lens.
常見錯誤
3. A clear, bendy structure inside the eye, positioned behind the iris, that alters
A clear, bendy structure inside the eye, positioned behind the iris, that alters its shape to guide incoming rays toward the retina for clear sight.
As people grow older, the lens of the eye can become cloudy, causing cataracts.
noun phrase: the lens of the eye
Amihan learned how the lens works with the cornea to focus images on the retina.
The human lens becomes thicker when you focus your eyes on something very close.
An eye examination showed that Lara's lens was still healthy and adjusting to light properly.
When the lens loses its flexibility, reading small text becomes more difficult with age.
- crystalline lens
Formal anatomical term for the lens of the eye, used in medical and scientific writing
文法句型
the lens of the eye
lens + becomes/is [adjective]
用法筆記
Frequently preceded by 'the' in scientific or medical contexts ('the lens', 'the lens of the eye'). Distinguished from the 'contact lens' sense by the definite article and anatomical context.
常見錯誤
4. A particular way of thinking about or understanding a situation, problem, or ide
A particular way of thinking about or understanding a situation, problem, or idea, as if looking at it from a specific point of view — for example, considering an issue through the lens of history, economics, or personal experience.
The documentary examined the war through the lens of ordinary people trying to survive.
metaphorical pattern: through the lens of [someone/something]
Esme's experience of living in three countries gives her a unique lens on cultural differences.
The professor asked students to view the poem through a historical lens.
Seeing the budget through a parent's lens changed Ignacio's opinion on school funding.
The report looks at climate change through the lens of economic cost and business opportunity.
- perspective
Broader and more common in everyday speech; does not carry the optical metaphor as strongly
- viewpoint
More direct and less formal; suggests a specific person's or group's position
- angle
Suggests a particular slant or emphasis, often in journalism or debate
文法句型
through the lens of [something]
from a [adjective] lens
用法筆記
Almost always follows the preposition 'through' (through the lens of...). The modifying word or phrase describes whose perspective or what framework is being adopted. Common only in formal or analytical writing.
常見錯誤
5. A device that uses magnetic or electric fields to direct and concentrate a strea
A device that uses magnetic or electric fields to direct and concentrate a stream of particles or waves, such as electrons in an electron microscope or protons in a particle accelerator.
An electron microscope uses magnetic lenses to focus a beam of electrons instead of light.
noun phrase: magnetic lens / electron lens
The scientists adjusted the lens in the particle accelerator to keep the proton beam stable.
X-ray machines use special lenses to direct radiation precisely onto a specific target area.
An optical lens bends light, but an electron lens uses magnetic fields to steer particles.
Evelyn's research project focused on improving the design of electrostatic lenses used in microscopes.
文法句型
magnetic + lens
electron + lens
用法筆記
Almost exclusively used in scientific and technical contexts. Often paired with the type of field ('magnetic lens', 'electrostatic lens') or the type of particle ('electron lens', 'proton lens').
lens — verb
1. To capture images of someone or something with a movie camera or video camera, e
To capture images of someone or something with a movie camera or video camera, especially as a professional or artistic activity.
The director chose to lens the entire movie using only natural daylight.
verb pattern: lens + [film/movie/scene]
Alessia carefully lensed the wedding ceremony from three different angles.
The studio hired a well-known cinematographer to lens their latest historical drama.
Rania lensed the interview in a small studio with just two cameras and simple lighting.
Christopher was thrilled when they asked him to lens the opening scene of the video.
文法句型
lens + [scene/film/subject]
用法筆記
A rare, specialised term used mainly in film production and journalism. The much more common alternatives are 'to film', 'to shoot', or 'to record'. This verb is almost never used in everyday conversation.