Webster's English Dictionary

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lens

1. lens \'lenz\ n [NL lent-, lens, fr. L, lentil; fr. its shape - more at 
   LENTIL] 1a: a piece of glass or other transparent substance that has two 
   opposite r egular surfaces either both curved or one curved and the other 
   plane and that is used either singly or combined in an optical instrument 
   for forming an image by focusing rays of light 1b: a combination of two or 
   more simples lenses  2: a device for directing or focusing radiation other 
   than light (as sound  waves, radio microwaves, electrons) 3: something 
   shaped like a double-convex optical lens  4: a highly transparent biconvex 
   lens-shaped or nearly spherical body in th e eye that focuses light rays 
   (as upon the retina)
2. lens vt : PHOTOGRAPH; esp : to make a motion picture of