lente

Lente is a polysemous term found in several languages, with meanings that vary by context. In Dutch and Afrikaans, lente is the word for spring, the season that follows winter. This usage is common in calendars, weather reports, and cultural references to the time of year.

In Portuguese, lente is a common noun meaning lens, as used for optical elements such as camera lenses, eyeglass lenses, or telescope apertures. The plural form lentes is also widely used. The term is widely encountered in photography, ophthalmology-related discussions, and optical product labeling.

Beyond language-specific meanings, lente can appear in names and proper nouns. It may be used as a surname or as part of place names in regions where Dutch or Portuguese influence is historical or contemporary, though its use in toponyms is less widespread than its everyday meanings in the languages cited above.

As a general linguistic note, lente shares roots with other terms relating to sight and optics in several European languages, but its precise meaning hinges on the linguistic and regional context. The English term lent is unrelated in meaning, though phonetic similarity can occur.

See also: Lent, Lento.