spotting scope

noun

: a lightweight portable telescope that is usually mounted on a tripod and used for viewing wildlife and terrestrial objects and features

Examples of spotting scope in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Eye These Up, Too: Best Night-Vision Goggles • Best Binoculars • Best Telescopes Objective Lens Diameter The viewing scope of the range finder is monocular like a telescope or spotting scope but with a smaller objective lens. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 28 Aug. 2023 For comparison, most binoculars have 40- to 50-millimeter objective lenses and spotting scopes will be 50- to 100-millimeters. Justin Park, Popular Mechanics, 28 Aug. 2023 Use binoculars, a spotting scope, or a telephoto lens for a good view. Jon Haworth, ABC News, 8 June 2023 Denali rangers dispatched to the area used a spotting scope to look for survivors. Melissa Alonso, CNN, 6 May 2023 One of the rangers used a spotting scope and saw two skis and an orange bag in the avalanche debris. Tess Williams, Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2023 Favorite amenities in the two-story suite include a heated jacket wardrobe that will keep your parka toasty prior to your arctic expedition and the Swarovski ATX Interior spotting scope, optimal for the best view of all the wildlife this ship will cruise alongside. Zachary Laks, CNN, 19 Apr. 2022 Bring binoculars or a spotting scope. Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, 20 Aug. 2020 Standard features such as tripod mounts, angled eye-pieces, and zoom-lenses make long-term observation much more feasible with a spotting scope. The Editors, Outdoor Life, 11 Nov. 2020 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'spotting scope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1921, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spotting scope was in 1921

Dictionary Entries Near spotting scope

Cite this Entry

“Spotting scope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spotting%20scope. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

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