prism Meaning, Definition & Usage
-
noun a polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms
-
noun optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an image
optical prism.
WordNet
Prism noun
Etymology
L.Definitions
-
(Geom.) A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms. ✍ Prisms of different forms are often named from the figure of their bases; as, a triangular prism, a quadrangular prism, a rhombic prism, etc. -
(Opt.) A transparent body, with usually three rectangular plane faces or sides, and two equal and parallel triangular ends or bases; -- used in experiments on refraction, dispersion, etc. -
(Crystallog.) A form the planes of which are parallel to the vertical axis. See Form , n., 13.