aperture

[ap-er-cher] /ˈæp ər tʃər/
noun
1.
an opening, as a hole, slit, crack, gap, etc.
2.
Also called aperture stop. Optics. an opening, usually circular, that limits the quantity of light that can enter an optical instrument.
Origin
1400-50; late Middle English < Latin apertūra an opening, equivalent to apert(us) opened (past participle of aperīre; aper(i)- (see aperient) + -tus past participle suffix) + -ūra -ure
Related forms
apertural
[ap-er-choo r-uh l] /ˈæp ərˌtʃʊər əl/ (Show IPA), adjective
apertured, adjective
Examples from the web for aperture
  • Another factor that affects what shutter speed and aperture combination is best is the film that is used.
  • Every picture is captioned with the exposure time, aperture setting and film brand and speed.
  • If your camera doesn't have portrait mode, use aperture-priority mode.
  • The iris is a circular diaphragm behind the cornea, and presents near its center a rounded aperture, the pupil.
  • Shutter speed and aperture can be adjusted.
  • But if the aperture is reduced too much, the image may be too dark to be usable.
  • It carries a 27-cm aperture telescope designed to detect tiny changes in brightness from nearby stars.
  • For greater depth of field, use a longer exposure time and smaller aperture.
  • And with that wide aperture comes a seriously shallow depth of field.
  • Zooms rarely have a maximum aperture of less than ƒ2.8.
British Dictionary definitions for aperture

aperture

/ˈæpətʃə/
noun
1.
a hole, gap, crack, slit, or other opening
2.
(physics)
  1. a usually circular and often variable opening in an optical instrument or device that controls the quantity of radiation entering or leaving it
  2. the diameter of such an opening See also relative aperture
Word Origin
C15: from Late Latin apertūra opening, from Latin aperīre to open
Word Origin and History for aperture
n.

early 15c., from Latin apertura "an opening," from apertus, past participle of aperire "to open" (see overt).

aperture in Medicine

aperture ap·er·ture (āp'ər-chər)
n.

  1. An opening, such as a hole, gap, or slit.

  2. A usually adjustable opening in an optical instrument, such as a microscope, a camera, or a telescope, that limits the amount of light passing through a lens or onto a mirror.

  3. The diameter of such an opening.

  4. The diameter of the objective of a telescope or microscope.

ap'er·tur'al adj.
Encyclopedia Article for aperture

in optics, the maximum diameter of a light beam that can pass through an optical system. The size of an aperture is limited by the size of the mount holding the optical component, or the size of the diaphragm placed in the bundle of light rays. The hole in the mount or diaphragm that limits the size of the aperture is called an aperture stop. Thus, an aperture stop determines the amount of light that traverses an optical system and hence determines the image illumination

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