optics

/ˈɒptɪks/ (bre, ipa) · [ˈɑptɪks] /ˈɑːptɪks/ (ame, ipa)

optics — noun

1. the area of science concerned with how light travels, what it does to what we se

1.名詞C1
釋義

the area of science concerned with how light travels, what it does to what we see, and how devices like lenses and mirrors work.

例句

Christopher signed up for a course in optics during his second year at university.

field of study: a course in optics

Modern optics makes it possible to send light signals through very thin glass fibres.

subject: optics + singular verb

同義詞
  • photonics

    narrower; focuses on generating and detecting photons in technology

  • light science

    informal cover term; less common in academic writing

文法句型

optics + is/deals with + topic

用法筆記

Always takes a singular verb in this sense (optics IS a branch of physics), even though the word looks plural. Distinguish from sense 2, which is about public perception, not science.

常見錯誤

❌Optics are a hard subject to study.
✅Optics is a hard subject to study.
💡although the word ends in -s, it takes a singular verb when it names the field of science.

2. the way an action or decision appears to the public, especially how news reports

2.名詞C1
釋義

the way an action or decision appears to the public, especially how news reports and political opponents may make it look bad, even if the action itself is reasonable.

例句

The mayor cancelled the trip because the optics of flying abroad during a strike were bad.

the optics of [action] are/were bad

Heloísa worried about the optics of having dinner with the senator she was reporting on.

the optics of + gerund phrase

同義詞
  • public perception

    more formal; same idea without the PR/political flavour

  • appearance

    broader; can describe physical look as well as public impression

  • image

    longer-term reputation; optics is more about a single moment or decision

文法句型

the optics of + noun phrase

the optics + are/look + adjective

用法筆記

Always plural in this sense (the optics ARE bad), and almost always used with the definite article — 'the optics of [doing X]'. Common in news writing about politics, business, and PR. Distinguish from sense 1, where the word names a branch of science and takes a singular verb.

常見錯誤

❌The optic of his speech was bad.
✅The optics of his speech were bad.
💡this meaning has no singular form and always takes a plural verb.
❌The optics show that we will lose money.
✅The figures show that we will lose money.
💡'optics' is about how something LOOKS to outsiders, not the underlying facts or numbers.