Polyhedron vs. Prism — What's the Difference?

In geometry, a polyhedron (plural polyhedra or polyhedrons) is a three-dimensional shape with flat polygonal faces, straight edges and sharp corners or vertices. The word polyhedron comes from the Classical Greek πολύεδρον, as poly- (stem of πολύς, "many") + -hedron (form of ἕδρα, "base" or "seat").

An optical prism is a transparent optical element with flat, polished surfaces that refract light. At least one surface must be angled — elements with two parallel surfaces are not prisms.

A solid bounded by polygons.

A solid figure whose bases or ends have the same size and shape and are parallel to one another, and each of whose sides is a parallelogram.

(geometry) A solid figure with many flat faces and straight edges.

A transparent body of this form, often of glass and usually with triangular ends, used for separating white light passed through it into a spectrum or for reflecting beams of light.

(optics) A polyscope, or multiplying glass.

A cut-glass object, such as a pendant of a chandelier.

A body or solid contained by many sides or planes.

A crystal form consisting of three or more similar faces parallel to a single axis.

A polyscope, or multiplying glass.

A medium that misrepresents whatever is seen through it.

A solid figure bounded by plane polygons or faces

(geometry) A polyhedron with parallel ends of the same size and shape, the other faces being parallelogram-shaped sides.

A transparent block in the shape of a prism (typically with triangular ends), used to split or reflect light.

A crystal in which the faces are parallel to the vertical axis.

A solid whose bases or ends are any similar, equal, and parallel plane figures, and whose sides are parallelograms.

A transparent body, with usually three rectangular plane faces or sides, and two equal and parallel triangular ends or bases; - used in experiments on refraction, dispersion, etc.

A polyhedron with two congruent and parallel faces (the bases) and whose lateral faces are parallelograms

Optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an image