kaleidoscope

noun

ka·​lei·​do·​scope kə-ˈlī-də-ˌskōp 

1

: an instrument containing loose bits of colored material (such as glass or plastic) between two flat plates and two plane mirrors so placed that changes of position of the bits of material are reflected in an endless variety of patterns

2

: something resembling a kaleidoscope: such as

a

: a variegated changing pattern or scene

a kaleidoscope of colors

b

: a succession of changing phases or actions

a kaleidoscope of changing fashions

c

: a diverse collection

kaleidoscopic

kə-ˌlī-də-ˈskä-pik 

adjective

kaleidoscopically

kə-ˌlī-də-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of kaleidoscope in a Sentence

The landscape was a kaleidoscope of changing colors.

Recent Examples on the Web

The path burrows into a kaleidoscope display formed by willows, boxelders, velvet ash and the fiery scarlet of bigtooth maples. —Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 10 Oct. 2025

The kaleidoscope of colors and cuts is the work of hair expert Jemma Muradian, the same artist who styled Swift for her most recent album covers. —Kaleigh Werner, Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2025

Across the 15 tracks on her debut full-length album Cherry Valley, Faith distills a kaleidoscope of small-town vignettes, colorful characters and raw emotions. —Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2025

But as the lyric videos glide along, the effect of that kaleidoscope (there’s actually an opening title warning viewers about the stroboscopic quality of it) becomes more like animated wallpaper. —Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Greek kalos beautiful + eidos form + English -scope — more at idyll

First Known Use

1817, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for kaleidoscope

• electroscope
• heliotrope
• laryngoscope
• ophthalmoscope
• oscilloscope
• polariscope
• stereoscope
• antelope
• bronchoscope
• cantaloupe
• cystoscope
• endoscope

Kids Definition

kaleidoscope

noun

ka·​lei·​do·​scope kə-ˈlīd-ə-ˌskōp 

1

: a tube containing loose bits of colored glass or plastic and two mirrors at one end that shows many different patterns as it is turned

2

: a changing pattern or scene

3

: a diverse collection

a kaleidoscope of subjects

kaleidoscopic

-ˌlīd-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

adjective

kaleidoscopically

-ˈskäp-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

from Greek kalos "beautiful" and Greek eidos "form, shape" and English -scope