aperture
An opening, hole, or gap, particularly one that allows light to pass through. In technical contexts like photography, it specifically refers to the adjustable opening in a lens that regulates the amount of light reaching the sensor.
Examples
3 of 5The sunlight streamed through a small aperture in the cave wall.
Light came through a little hole in the side of the cave.
The experiment required a precise circular aperture to focus the laser beam.
The scientific test needed an exact round opening to aim the laser.
Please ensure the aperture of the ventilation shaft is not obstructed.
Make sure the opening for the air vent is not blocked.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of 'A Part Here'—there is 'a part' of the surface missing, creating a hole.
Quick Quiz
To capture more light in a dark room, the photographer chose a ____ aperture.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wide
Examples
The sunlight streamed through a small aperture in the cave wall.
everydayLight came through a little hole in the side of the cave.
The experiment required a precise circular aperture to focus the laser beam.
academicThe scientific test needed an exact round opening to aim the laser.
Please ensure the aperture of the ventilation shaft is not obstructed.
formalMake sure the opening for the air vent is not blocked.
I used a wide aperture for the portrait to get that blurry background effect.
informalI opened the camera lens wide to make the background look soft.
Our new optical sensors feature an expanded aperture for better low-light performance.
businessOur latest sensors have a larger opening to work better in the dark.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
maximum aperture
the largest possible opening a lens can achieve
aperture priority
a camera mode where the user sets the aperture and the camera does the rest
numerical aperture
a measure of the range of angles over which a system can accept light
Often Confused With
Orifice usually refers to an opening in the body (mouth, nose), while aperture is used for mechanical or physical gaps.
The shutter is the 'door' that opens and closes for a duration of time, whereas the aperture is the 'size' of the hole.
Usage Notes
Aperture is most commonly used in photography and optics. While it can mean any hole, using it for a simple hole in a shirt might sound overly technical or strange.
Common Mistakes
Learners often think a 'higher' f-number (like f/22) means a larger aperture, but it actually means a smaller opening.
Memory Tip
Think of 'A Part Here'—there is 'a part' of the surface missing, creating a hole.
Word Origin
Derived from the Latin 'apertura', which comes from 'aperire', meaning 'to open'.
Grammar Patterns
Cultural Context
Crucial term in photography culture, often discussed by hobbyists regarding 'bokeh' (the aesthetic quality of the blur).
Quick Quiz
To capture more light in a dark room, the photographer chose a ____ aperture.
Correct!
The correct answer is: wide
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