prism

Meaning

Noun

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

Related

Narrower meaning words

• cylinder

Origin

• Late Latin prisma, from Ancient Greek πρίσματος, from Ancient Greek πρίσμα ("something sawed"), from πρίζειν.