prism
prism — 名詞
1. a geometric solid whose two end faces are identical flat polygons, connected by
稜柱
兩端形狀相同的立體圖形
a geometric solid whose two end faces are identical flat polygons, connected by side faces that are parallelograms or rectangles
Takeshi built a triangular prism from cardboard for the school science fair.
Takeshi 用厚紙板做了一個三角形稜柱，準備在學校科展上展示。
built from cardboard — shows material collocation
In geometry class, Kabir learned how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism.
Kabir 在幾何課上學會如何計算長方形稜柱的體積。
The model of a hexagonal prism sat on the teacher's desk all afternoon.
那個六角形稜柱的模型整個下午都放在老師的桌上。
Paloma identified the prism shapes in a stack of cereal boxes for her geometry worksheet.
Paloma 在一疊穀物盒上找出稜柱的形狀，這是她的幾何學習單的作業。
Valentina folded the paper net into a three-dimensional prism for her project.
Valentina 把展開圖摺成了一個立體稜柱當作她的作業。
- polyhedron
broader category — all prisms are polyhedra, but many polyhedra are not prisms
- solid
more general term for any 3D object, not specific to prisms
文法句型
a [adjective] prism
prism + made of/from [material]
prism with [number]-sided ends
用法筆記
Often appears with a prefix describing the shape of the end faces, such as triangular, rectangular, or hexagonal.
常見錯誤
2. a see-through object, usually triangular in shape, that bends light and splits w
稜鏡；三稜鏡
可將光線折射成彩色光譜的透明物體
a see-through object, usually triangular in shape, that bends light and splits white light apart into the separate colours contained within it
When sunlight passes through a glass prism, bands of colour appear on the wall.
陽光穿過玻璃稜鏡時，牆上會出現一道道彩色光帶。
passes through a [glass] prism — shows light + prism collocation
Hassan held the crystal prism up to the window and watched the rainbow form.
Hassan 把水晶稜鏡舉到窗邊，看著彩虹在眼前形成。
Scientists use a prism to study the different wavelengths that make up sunlight.
科學家用稜鏡來研究組成陽光的各種不同波長。
The diamond pendant acted like a tiny prism, scattering light across the room.
那顆鑽石墜飾就像一個微型稜鏡，把光線散射到整個房間。
Ari held the prism near the lamp, and coloured bands fell across the notebook.
Ari 把稜鏡靠近檯燈，彩色的光帶落在筆記本上。
文法句型
a [material] prism
prism + bends/splits/divides [light]
through a/the prism
用法筆記
In everyday English, prism usually refers to this optical device rather than the mathematical shape. The triangular form is the most common type.
常見錯誤
3. a way of looking at or thinking about a situation that changes or shapes your un
視角；角度
影響觀點或判斷的事物
a way of looking at or thinking about a situation that changes or shapes your understanding of it — like seeing a film through the prism of your own life experience
Beatrix tried to see the argument through the prism of her grandmother's experience during the war.
Beatrix 試著透過祖母在戰爭期間的經歷來看那場爭論。
through the prism of — core figurative pattern expanded with context
The documentary offered a new prism through which to view the country's history.
這部紀錄片提供了一個全新的視角來看待這個國家的歷史。
prism through which to view — extended pattern
His childhood experiences created a unique prism for understanding the world around him.
他童年的經歷為他理解周遭的世界創造了獨特的視角。
Viewed through the prism of social media, the event seemed much bigger than it was.
從社群媒體的角度來看，那場活動顯得比實際情況盛大得多。
Karim's cultural background gave him a different prism for judging what counts as success.
Karim 的文化背景讓他對「成功」的判斷有了不同的角度。
- perspective
more neutral and common — lacks the connotation of bending or colouring that prism carries
- lens
very close synonym, also suggests a filter that shapes perception
- angle
suggests a specific viewpoint or approach rather than a broad worldview
文法句型
through the prism of [something]
a different prism
a new prism
用法筆記
Always used figuratively in this sense. The phrase through the prism of is by far the most common pattern. Frequently describes how personal experience, culture, or ideology shapes perception.