prism

1 a polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms

2 optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an image [syn: optical prism]

English

Etymology

prisma, "sawn to shape"

Pronunciation

Noun

1. In the context of "shapes": A polyhedron with parallel ends of the same size and shape, the other faces being parallelogram-shaped sides.
2. A transparent block in the shape of a prism (typically with triangular ends), used to split or reflect light.
3. A crystal in which the faces are parallel to the vertical axis.

Derived terms

• antiprism
• Nicol prism
• prismatic
• prismatically
• prismatoid
• primoid
• prismatoid
• triangular prism

Translations

Prism may refer to:

Science and mathematics

• Prism (optics), a transparent object which refracts light
  • Dispersive prism, the most familiar type of optical prism
• Prism (geometry), a kind of polyhedron
• Prism (geology), a kind of sedimentary rock

Media and entertainment

Books, comics and magazines

• Prism (comics), a Marvel Comics character
• Prism (fictional planet), a fictional world depicted in the books of Alan Dean Foster
• Prism magazine (New Zealand), a Christian periodical

Music

• Prism (band), a Canadian rock band
  • Prism (album), the debut album of the Canadian band
• Prism (Japanese band), a jazz fusion band
• Prism (Jeff Scott Soto album)
• Prism Records, a record label

Other

• Prism (TV channel)

Computing and software

• PRISM (chipset), a wireless networking chipset
• Apollo PRISM, a microprocessor made by Apollo Computer
• DEC PRISM, a microprocessor made by Digital Equipment Corporation
• Mozilla Prism, a software product for desktop integration of web applications
• SGI Prism, a computer
• IBM's PR/SM - a mainframe hypervisor
• Project Prism, an open source project for developing composite WPF applications

Education

• PRISM (Portal Resources for Indiana Science and Mathematics), a website for teachers
• A program for gifted children in Bellevue, Washington and Thomas Grover Middle School, New Jersey

Other meanings

• Oregon Performance Reporting Information System, a state agency
• Prism Micro Products, a British telecommunications company

achromatic lens, astigmatic lens, burning glass, camera, coated lens, concave lens, concavo-convex lens, condenser, convex lens, eyeglass, eyepiece, glass, hand lens, lens, magnifier, magnifying glass, meniscus, object glass, objective, objective prism, ocular, reader, reading glass, telephoto lens, toric lens, varifocal lens, zoom lens