Huygens, Christiaan
Pronunciation: /ˈhʌɪgənz/
Definition of Huygens, Christiaan
- (1629–95), Dutch physicist, mathematician, and astronomer. His wave theory of light enabled him to explain reflection and refraction. He also patented a pendulum clock, introduced the convergent eyepiece for telescopes, discovered a satellite of Saturn, and recognized the nature of Saturn’s rings, which had eluded Galileo.