Meaning & Definition of word "Pinhole"

Pinhole

/ˈpɪnˌhoʊl/

1. A very small opening or hole, often used in contexts involving optics or photography.
- Example: The camera uses a pinhole to focus light onto the film.
2. A small hole made in a material that allows light or other substances to pass through.
- Example: She noticed a pinhole in the fabric that was letting light through.
3. In science, such as in pinhole photography or pinhole cameras, it refers to a concept where an image is formed through a small aperture.
- Example: A pinhole camera works by allowing light to pass through a tiny hole to create an image.

Combines the words 'pin' (for its small size) and 'hole', referring to its shape.

pinhole camera:

A simple type of camera that uses a pinhole instead of a lens to focus light.

pinhole surgery:

A minimally invasive surgical technique that involves small incisions.

aperture:

An opening or hole through which light travels.

lens:

A piece of transparent material that focuses or disperses light.

Meaning: Pinhole as a euphemism for a small space.

Example Sentence: I squeezed through a pinhole to get into the garden.

Meaning: Used in a phrase to describe something negligible or minor.

Example Sentence: That issue is just a pinhole in the grand scheme of things.