Synonyms

magnifying glass

American

noun

a lens that produces an enlarged image of an object.

magnifying glass British

noun

a convex lens used to produce an enlarged image of an object

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of magnifying glass

First recorded in 1655–65

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

However, let me whip out my beige trench coat and magnifying glass as I tell you: My investigation did uncover some interesting questions about the origins of this salmon.

From Salon

“What if there are words? Like, the name of the hotel? Do you think this library has a magnifying glass?”

From Literature

He imagined if she had a magnifying glass, she’d peer at him through it.

From Literature

When she looked up, the magnifying glass enlarged her right eye, giving her the terrifying look of a cyclops.

From Literature

“A magnifying glass and a good hiding place.”

From Literature

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023