Meaning & use
prism
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Meanings
nouncountable
A transparent object, usually glass, with flat sides that bends light and separates it into a spectrum of colors.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a prism' or 'the prism'. Often used in science contexts.
Patterns
- through a prism
- a glass prism
The scientist used a prism to split white light into a rainbow.
When sunlight passes through a prism, you can see all the colors of the spectrum.
He bought a small prism to demonstrate refraction in class.
nouncountablemathematics
A solid geometric shape with flat sides and identical ends, often used in mathematics.
Grammar: Countable; used in geometry for a 3D shape.
Patterns
- a triangular prism
- the volume of a prism
A triangular prism has two triangular bases and three rectangular sides.
We learned how to calculate the volume of a rectangular prism.
The building was shaped like a giant glass prism.
nouncountablefigurative
A way of looking at or thinking about something that is influenced by a particular perspective.
Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'through the prism of'.
Patterns
- through the prism of something
- view something through a prism
The novel examines history through the prism of one family's experience.
She sees the world through the prism of her own culture.
The debate is often viewed through a political prism.
Word forms
| plural | prisms |
|---|
Common combinations
- through a prism
- Light bends when it passes through a prism.
- a glass prism
- The teacher placed a glass prism on the table.
- triangular prism
- A triangular prism is a common shape in geometry.
- through the prism of
- We can understand the event through the prism of history.
Synonyms and how they differ
- spectroscope
- A scientific instrument that also separates light into colors, but it is more complex than a simple prism.
Word family
- prismatic adjective
- Relating to or shaped like a prism; also describes colors like those produced by a prism.
Commonly confused: prism or prison?
prism vs prison
Prison is a place where people are kept as punishment; a prism is a glass object or geometric shape. They sound somewhat similar but are unrelated.
Practice
The children watched the light split into a rainbow when it passed through the _______.
Choose one answer.
A prism is the object that bends light and separates it into colors. 'Prison' is a place of confinement, 'prism's' is possessive and would need a following noun, and 'prisms' is plural but the sentence refers to one object.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “prism”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.