Collimator

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Collimator \Col"li*ma`tor\, n.
     1. (Astron.) A telescope arranged and used to determine
        errors of collimation, both vertical and horizontal.
        --Nichol.
        [1913 Webster]
  


     2. (Optics) A tube having a convex lens at one end and at the
        other a small opening or slit which is at the principal
        focus of the lens, used for producing a beam of parallel
        rays; also, a lens so used.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  collimator
       n 1: a small telescope attached to a large telescope to use in
            setting the line of the larger one
       2: optical device consisting of a tube containing a convex
          achromatic lens at one end and a slit at the other with
          the slit at the focus of the lens; light rays leave the
          slit as a parallel beam