concave ‹convex› lens (english) - meaning, definition, translation, pronunciation

Part of Speech

Noun

Phonetic Transcription

/kənˈkeɪv/ ˈkɒnvɛks/ lɛnz/

Meaning

A concave lens is a type of lens that is thinner at the center than at the edges, causing light rays that are parallel to its optical axis to diverge. It is often used in optical devices such as glasses for nearsightedness. A convex lens, on the other hand, is thicker at the center than at the edges and causes incoming parallel light rays to converge.

• Usage in English: The term "concave lens" is primarily used in scientific and technical contexts, particularly in optics. "Convex lens" also appears in similar contexts.
• Frequency of Use: These terms are more frequently encountered in written contexts, such as textbooks and research papers, than in casual oral speech.

Example Sentences

1. The concave lens helped the student understand how light is bent when it passes through different mediums.
   ("La lente cóncava ayudó al estudiante a entender cómo se dobla la luz al pasar a través de diferentes medios.")

2. Using a convex lens, the physicist was able to focus the rays of light onto a small point.
   ("Usando una lente convexa, el físico pudo enfocar los rayos de luz en un punto pequeño.")

3. The optician prescribed a pair of glasses with a concave lens to correct the patient’s vision.
   ("El óptico recetó un par de gafas con lentes cóncavos para corregir la visión del paciente.")

Idiomatic Expressions

While "concave lens" and "convex lens" are technical terms and not part of common idiomatic expressions in English, there are some related idiomatic phrases that involve "lens" more generally.

1. "Through the lens of experience"

2. "We often understand life better through the lens of experience."
   ("A menudo entendemos mejor la vida a través del lente de la experiencia.")

3. "Seeing things through a different lens"

4. "She learned to see things through a different lens after meeting diverse people."
   ("Ella aprendió a ver las cosas a través de un lente diferente después de conocer a personas diversas.")

5. "Put things into perspective" (related to how lenses focus)

6. "Traveling around the world helped him put things into perspective."
   ("Viajar por el mundo le ayudó a poner las cosas en perspectiva.")

Etymology

The term "concave" comes from the Latin word concavus, meaning "hollow," combined with "lens" from the Latin lenticula, meaning "small lentil," due to its shape. Similarly, "convex" comes from the Latin word convexus, meaning "arched" or "vaulted."

Synonyms and Antonyms

• Synonyms:
• Concave: hollow, depressed

• Convex: bulging, protruding

• Antonyms:

• Concave: convex
• Convex: concave

This comprehensive overview of concave and convex lens demonstrates their significance in optics and their linguistic usage in English.