(Geometry)a solid geometric figure whose two ends are similar, equal, and parallel rectilinear figures, and whose sides are parallelograms (几何)棱柱(体),角柱(体) ■(Optics)a glass or other transparent object in this form, especially one that is triangular with refracting surfaces at an acute angle with each other and that separates white light into a spectrum of colours (光学)棱镜,折光物 ■used figuratively with reference to the clarification or distortion afforded by a particular viewpoint (喻)(某种观点带来的)澄清(或歪曲) the prism of science. 科学的剖析。
语源
late 16th cent.: via late Latin from Greek prisma 'thing sawn', from prizein 'to saw'