Abstract: A zoomable beamspreader is disclosed having two lenses arranged in closely spaced, confronting relationship, with each lens incorporating an array of alternating positive and negative lens segments. One of the two lenses is controllably movable relative to the other, in a direction substantially perpendicular to an optical axis, between a non-spread position, in which the positive and negative lens segments of one lens are aligned with the respective negative and positive lens segments of the other lens, and a spread position, in which the positive and negative lens segments of one lens are aligned with the respective positive and negative lens segments of the other lens. The two lenses can take any of several alternative forms, including a one-dimensional array of cylindrical lens segments, for providing a zoomable beamspread along just one dimension, and a two-dimensional array of spheric or aspheric lens segments, for providing a zoomable beamspread along both dimensions.