/ Dictionary / Index B barrel distortion: Meaning and Definition of Find definitions for: bar'rel distor"tion Pronunciation: [key] — Optics. Optics. a distortion produced by a lens in which the magnification decreases toward the edge of the field. Cf. pincushion distortion. Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease. barrel cuff barrel engine Related Content Daily Word Quiz: neologism Analogy of the Day: Today’s Analogy Spelling Bee: Today’s Spelling Bee Frequently Misspelled Words Frequently Mispronounced Words Easily Confused Words Writing & Language