prism
An object having the shape of a geometrical prismA polyhedron with parallel ends of the same polygonal shape and size, the other faces being parallelogram-shaped sides.: An object having the shape of a geometrical prism (sense 1).
» A prism decomposes light.
Ein Prisma zerlegt das Licht.
Призма расщепляет свет.
Призма розкладає світло.
Meaning
7 sensesA polyhedron with parallel ends of the same polygonal shape and size, the other faces being parallelogram-shaped sides.
An object having the shape of a geometrical prism (sense 1).
A cutting (“open passage at a level lower than the surrounding terrain, dug for a canal, railway, or road to go through”) or an embankment shaped like a prism (sense 1) or a number of prisms, such that its volume can be easily calculated.
A crystal in which the faces are parallel to the vertical axis.
a polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms
A transparent block in the shape of a prism (sense 1), typically with triangular ends, used to reflect or refract light.
Prisma
при́змаprízma
при́змаprýzma
(broadly)A retroreflector (“device which reflects light back to its source with minimal scattering”) which is usually attached to a surveying pole as a target for a total station which emits a light beam at the device and calculates how long it takes to be reflected back in order to measure distance.
(figuratively)A perspective that colours one's perception.
A transparent block in the shape of a prism (sense 1), typically with triangular ends, used to reflect or refract light.
(archaic)A spectrum produced by light being refracted through a prism.
Examples
7 sentencesA prism decomposes light.
Призма розкладає світло. — aandrusiak
ruПризма расщепляет свет. — odexed
deEin Prisma zerlegt das Licht. — bluepie88
Light is resolved by a prism into seven colors.
How many vertices and faces does a pentagonal prism have?
Inside the prism, violet light slows down more than red light.
A beam of white light is split by a prism into rays of various colors.
Translations
9 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
Learned borrowing from Late Latin prisma (“(geometry) prism”), from Ancient Greek πρίσμᾰ (Learned borrowing from Late Latin prisma (“(geometry) prism”), from Ancient Greek πρίσμᾰ (prísmă, “anything sawn; sawdust; (Koine, geometry) prism”), from πρῐ́ζω (prĭ́zō) (a variant of πρῑ́ω (prī́ō, “to saw”), further etymology unknown) + -μᾰ (-mă, suffix forming neuter nouns denoting the effect or result of an action, etc.).
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: prismsSynonyms
1 synonyms- optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an image:optical prism