prism

/ˈpɹɪz(ə)m/noun
Middle School
1

An object having the shape of a geometrical prism (sense 1).

2

A cutting (“open passage at a level lower than the surrounding terrain, dug for a canal, railway, or road to go through”) or an embankment shaped like a prism (sense 1) or a number of prisms, such that its volume can be easily calculated.

3

A crystal in which the faces are parallel to the vertical axis.

4

A transparent block in the shape of a prism (sense 1), typically with triangular ends, used to reflect or refract light.

5

A spectrum produced by light being refracted through a prism.

6

A retroreflector (“device which reflects light back to its source with minimal scattering”) which is usually attached to a surveying pole as a target for a total station which emits a light beam at the device and calculates how long it takes to be reflected back in order to measure distance.

7

A perspective that colours one's perception.

Sound Patterns & Rhymes

Rhymes

Words that share the same ending sound pattern

Alliteration

Words starting with the same consonant sound — used in poetry and prose to create rhythm, emphasis, and memorable phrasing (e.g. “Peter Piper picked”)

Assonance

Words sharing similar vowel sounds regardless of starting letter — creates internal melody in writing

Consonance

Words sharing similar consonant sound patterns — adds texture and cohesion to writing

#archaic