camera obscura

noun
cam·​era ob·​scu·​ra | \ ˈkam-rə-əb-ˈskyu̇r-ə How to pronounce camera obscura (audio) , ˈka-mə-rə-\

Definition of camera obscura

: a darkened enclosure having an aperture usually provided with a lens through which light from external objects enters to form an image of the objects on the opposite surface

Examples of camera obscura in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

All photography dates back to an ancient optical effect known as the camera obscura, in which inverted images of external scenes or objects form on a white surface within a darkened chamber. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, "Scientists found these old photographs contain metallic nanoparticles," 12 June 2019 Photography Workshop Participants will focus on camera obscura and cyanotypes. Houston Chronicle, "On the go: Pub crawls and Vince Young signs autographs," 3 July 2018 He was inspired by friends who made exact drawings using a camera obscura—a dark room with a small hole in one side, which projects an inverted image of the outside view onto the opposite wall. The Economist, "Retro photography is in vogue," 2 June 2018 Obscurus Projectum Sandra Gibson, and Luis Recoder, art installation involving large-scale camera obscura. Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Kids listings," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'camera obscura.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of camera obscura

1716, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for camera obscura

New Latin, literally, dark chamber

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