prism
prism Lexical Profile
prism Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light, classically featuring a triangular base used to disperse white light into a spectrum of colors.
"The physics teacher used a glass prism to demonstrate how sunlight can be split into a rainbow."
A solid geometric figure whose two end faces are identical, parallel polygons, and whose side faces are parallelograms.
"In geometry class, the students learned how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism."
A medium, perspective, or viewpoint through which an issue or event is evaluated, clarified, or interpreted.
"The historian chose to examine the Cold War entirely through the prism of cultural exchange programs."
• Rhymes for prism
Word Origin & Etymology
From Late Latin 'prisma', borrowed from Ancient Greek 'prisma' meaning 'something sawed', derived from the verb 'prizein' (to saw).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.