bifocal
|bi/fo/cal|
🇺🇸
/baɪˈfoʊkəl/
🇬🇧
/baɪˈfəʊkəl/
dual focus
Etymology
'bifocal' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'bifocālis,' where 'bi-' meant 'two' and 'focus' meant 'hearth' or 'point of convergence.'
'bifocālis' transformed into the English word 'bifocal' through the influence of scientific terminology in the 19th century.
Initially, it meant 'having two focal points,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a pair of eyeglasses with lenses having two different optical powers.
She switched to bifocals after her vision started to decline.
Synonyms
Adjective 1
having two different optical powers.
He wears bifocal glasses to help with both reading and distance vision.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/25 08:36