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
Churchill’s politics emerge with the same craftiness as her mysticism, like a beam refracted around the corner of a dream-logic prism.
—
Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
Bayern’s strategy over the years needs to be viewed through the specific prism of German football.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
And that is the power of having a team with a multiplicity of different prisms.
—Matthew Phillips, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
And rendering specialists need it to accurately simulate real-world optical effects like dispersion (rainbows from prisms, for example) and fluorescence.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
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Sara Holdren, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2025
Bayern’s strategy over the years needs to be viewed through the specific prism of German football.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 8 Apr. 2025
And that is the power of having a team with a multiplicity of different prisms.
—Matthew Phillips, Forbes.com, 3 Apr. 2025
And rendering specialists need it to accurately simulate real-world optical effects like dispersion (rainbows from prisms, for example) and fluorescence.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for prism
Cite this Entry
“Prism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/prism. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
prism
noun1
: 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
noun1
: 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
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