ASTIGMATISM

astigmatism, astigmia

(noun) (optics) defect in an optical system in which light rays from a single point fail to converge in a single focal point

astigmatism, astigmia

(noun) (ophthalmology) impaired eyesight resulting usually from irregular conformation of the cornea; common in nearsighted people

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

astigmatism (countable and uncountable, plural astigmatisms)

(optics) A defect of a lens such that light rays coming from a point do not meet at a focal point so that the image is blurred.

(pathology) A disorder of the vision, usually due to a misshapen cornea, such that light does not focus correctly on the retina causing a blurred image.

Synonyms

• astigmia

Source: Wiktionary


A*stig"ma*tism, n. Etym: [Gr. astigmatisme.] (Med. & Opt.)

Definition: A defect of the eye or of a lens, in consequence of which the rays derived from one point are not brought to a single focal point, thus causing imperfect images or indistictness of vision.

Note: The term is applied especially to the defect causing images of lines having a certain direction to be indistinct, or imperfectly seen, while those of lines transverse to the former are distinct, or clearly seen.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

10 June 2025

COMMUNICATIONS

(noun) the discipline that studies the principles of transmiting information and the methods by which it is delivered (as print or radio or television etc.); “communications is his major field of study”


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Coffee Trivia

Decaffeinated coffee comes from a chemical process that takes out caffeine from the beans. Pharmaceutical and soda companies buy the extracted caffeine.

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