microscope

noun mi·cro·scope \ ˈmī-krə-ˌskōp \

|Updated on: 11 Aug 2018

Examples: microscope in a Sentence

Definition of microscope

1 : an optical instrument consisting of a lens or combination of lenses for making enlarged images of minute objects; especially : compound microscope

2 : a non-optical instrument (such as one using radiations other than light or using vibrations) for making enlarged images of minute objects

an acoustic microscope

See microscope defined for English-language learners

See microscope defined for kids

Examples of microscope in a Sentence

Students viewed the crystals through a microscope.

Recent Examples of microscope from the Web

Stankey got a taste of life under the microscope on Friday, during the third in a trio of town hall-style meetings held for employees of HBO, Warner Bros., and Turner, respectively.

— joe pompeo, The Hive, "“How’s He Gonna React When There’s a Scandal?”: CNN Begins Its New Day Under John Stankey," 26 June 2018
Through water tubes and microscopes, the group examines the quality of the Hudson’s waters.

— Billboard, "Aboard the Clearwater: Five Decades of Environmental Activism Rooted In Music," 13 June 2018
With a blue wave less of a sure thing, the activities of various political groups have come under the microscope, particularly those that are aiming to shake up Democratic politics and push the party to the left.

— sarah jones, The New Republic, "Is It Time for Change at Our Revolution?," 21 May 2018
When examined under a microscope, the soles of their feet had a normal number of sweat glands, unlike their older brother Joshua.

— eric boodman, STAT, "‘A full rescue’: Drug injected before birth treats rare genetic disorder," 25 Apr. 2018
By looking at a strand of DNA under a special microscope, the researchers were able to see how often an i-motif occurred in a genome by counting fluorescent dots.

— deborah netburn, latimes.com, "In human cells, scientists find DNA that looks like a twisted knot instead of a double helix," 23 Apr. 2018
Those same users would be wise, while the company is under the microscope, to pay closer attention to Facebook's curious and complicated relationship with Russia.

— nathan hodge, CNN, "Russia has a curious love-hate relationship with Facebook," 5 Apr. 2018
Sabin looked inward, into the invisible world inside her microscope, and into her own deductions, experiments and hypotheses.

— eliza mcgraw, Smithsonian, "Florence Sabin Pioneered Her Way in Medical Science, Then Made Sure Other Women Could Do the Same," 6 July 2018
Tibby was very into that in the book, so that's present, with his microscope.

— yvonne villarreal, latimes.com, "'Howards End' star Hayley Atwell was drawn to the vitality of the story exploring class differences," 19 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'microscope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of microscope

New Latin microscopium, from micr- + -scopium -scope

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

MICROSCOPE Defined for English Language Learners

microscope

noun

Definition of microscope for English Language Learners

: a device used for producing a much larger view of very small objects so that they can be seen clearly

MICROSCOPE Defined for Kids

microscope

noun mi·cro·scope \ ˈmī-krə-ˌskōp \

Definition of microscope for Students

: an instrument with one or more lenses used to help a person to see something very small by making it appear larger

Medical Dictionary

microscope

noun mi·cro·scope \ ˈmī-krə-ˌskōp \

medical Definition of microscope

1 : an optical instrument consisting of a lens or combination of lenses for making enlarged images of minute objects; especially : compound microscope — see light microscope, phase-contrast microscope, polarizing microscope, reflecting microscope, ultraviolet microscope

2 : an instrument using radiations other than light or using vibrations for making enlarged images of minute objects