apochromat
|a-poch-ro-mat|
🇺🇸
/ˌeɪpəˈkroʊmæt/
🇬🇧
/ˌeɪpəˈkrəʊmæt/
lens corrected for color (chromatic aberration)
Etymology
'apochromat' originates from New Latin/modern scientific coinage via German 'Apochromat', built from Greek elements 'apo-' and 'chroma' where 'apo-' meant 'away, separate' and 'chroma' meant 'color'.
'apochromat' entered technical usage in German and English optics in the 19th century (German 'Apochromat') and was adopted into English as the technical term 'apochromat'.
Initially formed from elements meaning 'away from color' (i.e., correcting color errors); over time it came to refer specifically to lenses corrected for chromatic aberration at multiple wavelengths (typically three).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a lens or optical objective corrected to bring three (or more) wavelengths into the same focus plane, substantially reducing chromatic aberration; an apochromatic lens.
The telescope used an apochromat to produce sharp, color-free images of the planets.
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Adjective 1
adjective form of 'apochromat' — relating to or denoting an optical system or lens that is corrected for chromatic aberration.
Describing a lens as apochromat emphasizes that it is designed to minimize color fringing.
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Last updated: 2025/09/19 04:22