'lens-shaped' is a compound formed from 'lens' + the suffix '-shaped'. 'lens' originates from Latin 'lens' (meaning 'lentil'), and the suffix '-shaped' derives from the noun 'shape' combined with a word-building element indicating form.

'lens' entered English via Medieval Latin and Middle English from Latin 'lens' (lit. 'lentil'), named for the similarity in shape; 'shape' comes from Old English 'gesceap'/'sceap' (meaning 'form' or 'creation'), which evolved into modern 'shape', and the compound 'lens-shaped' developed in modern English to describe things having the form of a lens.

Initially 'lens' referred to the lentil (the seed) because of the similar curved form; over time, 'lens' came to refer to optical lenses and shapes resembling them. Thus 'lens-shaped' evolved from meaning 'lentil-like' to 'having the form of an optical lens or lenticular object.'