burning-glass

English

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈbəːnɪŋɡlɑːs/

Noun

burning-glass (plural burning-glasses)

1. (dated) A magnifying lens, as used to focus sunlight on to an object.
   • 1624, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy: […], 2nd edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed by John Lichfield and James Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition III, section 2, member 2, subsection ii:

     The more he sees her, the worse he is, uritque videndo; as in a burning-glass the sunbeams are re-collected to a centre, the rays of love are projected from her eyes.

   • 1858, R M Ballantyne, The Coral Island:

     Our burning-glass also now became a great treasure, as it enabled me to magnify, and so perceive more clearly […].

   • 1890, James George Frazer, The Golden Bough, volume 2, page 207:

     The Vestal fire was rekindled by sunlight reflected from a burning-glass.