prism

noun

ˈpri-zəm 

1

: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms

2

a

: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light

b

: a prism-shaped decorative glass luster

3

: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis

especially : one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis

4

: a medium that distorts, slants, or colors whatever is viewed through it

Examples of prism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The movie doesn’t want to be a four-alarm funeral pyre but a tragic romance, presenting Amy through the prism of the amour fou that put her into a tailspin and fueled her triple-platinum second album. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 May 2024

Geometric color blocks abut in a soft patchwork prism of reds, pinks, blues, and grays, each section of cotton fabric bonded to the next by impossibly tiny stitches. —Ellen Fort, Saveur, 8 May 2024

To illustrate this the film uses the prism of ServiceNow’s RiseUp program that empowers diverse talents to secure career opportunities. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 May 2024

But with a national election looming, they are being viewed through a national prism. —TIME, 4 May 2024

But with a general election looming, they are being viewed through a national prism. —Pan Pylas, The Christian Science Monitor, 3 May 2024

And second, the Dolphins built the present roster looking at the team from the prism of a two-year window. —Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 May 2024

Viewed through the prism of wringing out the most of every last great Steph Curry season, this year was squandered. —Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 17 Apr. 2024

People around the world reach conclusions about the justice of a particular military operation not on the basis of a legal debate but through the prism of their particular media consumption. —Ami Ayalon, Foreign Affairs, 11 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin prismat-, prisma, from Greek, literally, anything sawn, from priein to saw

First Known Use

1570, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

prism

noun

ˈpriz-əm 

1

: a polyhedron with two opposite ends that are parallel polygons and faces that are each parallelograms

2

: a transparent object that usually has three sides and bends light so that it breaks up into rainbow colors

Medical Definition

prism

noun

ˈpriz-əm 

1

: a polyhedron with two polygonal faces lying in parallel planes and with the other faces parallelograms

2

: a transparent body that is bounded in part by two nonparallel plane faces and is used to refract or disperse a beam of light

3

: a crystal form whose faces are parallel to one axis

especially : one whose faces are parallel to the vertical axis