Words / B2

LAYZ-uh/ˈleɪzə/

A laser is a device that produces a narrow, intense beam of light: a laser pointer; laser surgery. Beam is the light itself; torch is ordinary light. Explain why a laser is coherent. Mix-up: lazer is a misspelling; razor is for shaving. Do not call any bright LED a laser in physics.

Meaning

A device that produces a narrow, intense beam of light.

Examples

• “The physics paper asks why a laser is coherent, not merely “bright”.”
• “Laser surgery featured in the biology ethics item, which is the medical sense.”

Good to know

a laser beam / pointer / printer; laser surgery. Light: beam. Trap: lazer / razor. Physics and biology. Coherent light, not a torch.

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