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Translate files Pinhole
/ˈpɪnˌhoʊl/
Meaning & Definition
noun
A very small opening or hole, often used in contexts involving optics or photography.
The camera uses a pinhole to focus light onto the film.
A small hole made in a material that allows light or other substances to pass through.
She noticed a pinhole in the fabric that was letting light through.
In science, such as in pinhole photography or pinhole cameras, it refers to a concept where an image is formed through a small aperture.
A pinhole camera works by allowing light to pass through a tiny hole to create an image.
Etymology
Combines the words 'pin' (for its small size) and 'hole', referring to its shape.
Common Phrases and Expressions
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.
Related Words
aperture
An opening or hole through which light travels.
lens
A piece of transparent material that focuses or disperses light.
Slang Meanings
Pinhole as a euphemism for a small space.
I squeezed through a pinhole to get into the garden.
Used in a phrase to describe something negligible or minor.
That issue is just a pinhole in the grand scheme of things.