lēca

Borrowed from Old East Slavic ляца (ljaca, “lentils”), from Proto-Slavic *lęťa. Because of the roundish, flat seeds of this plant, K. Lībietis used the same word (in 1873) to refer also to the structure inside the eye (crystalline lens), as well as its optical equivalent (lens). In this, he followed the model of German Linse.[1]

• IPA^(key): [lǣːtsa]

lēca f (4th declension)

1. (usually plural) lentils, lens (plant of the genus Lens, cultivated for their edible seeds; the seeds of these plants)

   vārīt lēcas ― to boil, to cook lentils

   briljants lēcas grauda formā ― a diamond in the form of a lentil seed

   lēcas kultivē cilvēku uzturam no visssenākiem laikiem ― one has cultivated lentils for human consumption since the most ancient times

2. (optics) lens (a clear, transparent body in various forms, usually made of glass, used to change the direction of incoming light rays so as to produce images)

   izliekta lēca ― convex lens

   ieliekta lēca ― concave lens

   kontakta lēca, kontaktlēca ― contact lens

   visus refrakcijas anomālijas veidus mēs labojam ar speciāli pagatavotām stikla lēcām ― all types of refraction anomalies we (can) correct with specially prepared glass lenses

3. (anatomy) (crystalline) lens (part of the eye)

   acs ābolā ir četras caurspīdīgas vides: radzene, ūdeņainais šķidrums, lēca un stiklveida ķermenis ― the eyeball has four transparent environments: the cornea, the aqueous humor, the (crystlline) lens and the vitreous body (= humor)

   lēcas centrālā daļa novietota tieši pretī varavīksnenes atverei ― the central part of the (crystalline) lens is located directly in front of the iris opening