prism
n. countable B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈpɹɪzəm// UK //pɹˈɪzəm// prism
n. a solid glass object with flat sides that can bend light. When white light passes through it, it breaks into a rainbow of colors.
n. a transparent solid body, often with triangular ends and rectangular sides, used for refracting or dispersing light into its constituent spectrum.
The glass prism created a rainbow on the wall.
In science class, we used a triangular prism to study how white light separates into different colors.
Newton's experiments with the prism demonstrated that white light is not a single entity but a composite of various wavelengths, each refracting at a slightly different angle.
Usage
Commonly used in both literal optical contexts and as a metaphor for a specific perspective or viewpoint.