tele·scope
ˈte-lə-ˌskōp 
often attributive
1
2
: any of various tubular magnifying optical instruments
3
telescoped; telescoping
1
: to become forced together lengthwise with one part entering another as the result of collision
2
: to slide or pass one within another like the cylindrical sections of a collapsible hand telescope
3
: to become compressed or condensed
Synonyms
Examples of telescope in a Sentence
Noun
The rings of Saturn can be seen through a telescope.
Verb
for dramatic purposes, the film telescopes the years over which the events occurred into a few short months
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Kan, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
The new find – located at the center of a galaxy some 500 million light-years away – is early fruit for a new transient detection system that feeds off data produced by the Swift Observatory X-ray telescope.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023
The rocket is carrying two space missions: a new X-ray telescope to help scientists better understand the origins of the universe and a lightweight high-precision moon lander that will serve as the basis for future moon landing technology.
—Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
Read full article The rocket is carrying two space missions: a new X-ray telescope and a lightweight high-precision moon lander that will serve as the basis for future moon landing technology.
—Julia Mio Inuma, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
Astronomers have been conducting the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) since 1960, using telescopes to watch for signals from space.
—Seth Fletcher, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2023
The series of curves resembles the interlocking tubes of an actual collapsible telescope.
—Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
The telescope separated at 8:56 a.m., and the moon lander separated at 9:29 a.m.
The reputation of Japan’s space program was on the line with the launch Thursday.
—Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
Set to launch no earlier than June 2028, the telescope is designed to discover 90% of asteroids and comets that are 460 feet in size or larger and come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023
The extra-long stretch hose and wands provide incredible reach and telescope back into the body of the vacuum for neat storage.
—Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 28 Aug. 2023
Note the optical sight and radar next to the telescoping two-shot launcher.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2023
The telescoping aluminum handle and ball-bearing wheels really take the usability of this suitcase to the next level.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2023
And not just on the surface: The structure consists of telescoping hexagonal shafts, slightly offset, so that every line is jagged, every facet broken down.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2023
Use a small handheld mirror or a telescoping inspection mirror to check the jet holes under the toilet rim.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 25 July 2023
These wouldn’t be traditional canvas managed by ropes but could wind up as giant kites, spinning rotors or telescoping hard sails — like a folding airplane wing — that harness wind power to propel the vessel.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 7 July 2023
The mercenary warlord telescoped into a two-day tragicomic plot many of the baleful forces in Russian history and thought that Mr. Morson’s cherished authors dissected, dramatized—and often mocked.
—Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 7 July 2023
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Noun
The observations from the James Webb telescope also suggest HH 211 actually might differ from our sun in a key way.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 14 Sep. 2023
The new find – located at the center of a galaxy some 500 million light-years away – is early fruit for a new transient detection system that feeds off data produced by the Swift Observatory X-ray telescope.
—Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2023
The rocket is carrying two space missions: a new X-ray telescope to help scientists better understand the origins of the universe and a lightweight high-precision moon lander that will serve as the basis for future moon landing technology.
—Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
Read full article The rocket is carrying two space missions: a new X-ray telescope and a lightweight high-precision moon lander that will serve as the basis for future moon landing technology.
—Julia Mio Inuma, BostonGlobe.com, 7 Sep. 2023
Astronomers have been conducting the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI) since 1960, using telescopes to watch for signals from space.
—Seth Fletcher, New York Times, 24 Aug. 2023
The series of curves resembles the interlocking tubes of an actual collapsible telescope.
—Kevin Hartnett, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2023
The telescope separated at 8:56 a.m., and the moon lander separated at 9:29 a.m.
The reputation of Japan’s space program was on the line with the launch Thursday.
—Julia Mio Inuma, Washington Post, 7 Sep. 2023
Set to launch no earlier than June 2028, the telescope is designed to discover 90% of asteroids and comets that are 460 feet in size or larger and come within 30 million miles of Earth’s orbit.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 7 Sep. 2023
Verb
According to Think Defence, this appears to be a Chess Dynamics Hawkeye surveillance system mounted on a Viper telescoping mast.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 3 Sep. 2023
The extra-long stretch hose and wands provide incredible reach and telescope back into the body of the vacuum for neat storage.
—Carolyn Forté, Good Housekeeping, 28 Aug. 2023
Note the optical sight and radar next to the telescoping two-shot launcher.
—Sébastien Roblin, Popular Mechanics, 18 Aug. 2023
The telescoping aluminum handle and ball-bearing wheels really take the usability of this suitcase to the next level.
—Maya Kachroo-Levine, Travel + Leisure, 4 Apr. 2023
And not just on the surface: The structure consists of telescoping hexagonal shafts, slightly offset, so that every line is jagged, every facet broken down.
—Justin Davidson, Curbed, 3 Aug. 2023
Use a small handheld mirror or a telescoping inspection mirror to check the jet holes under the toilet rim.
—Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, 25 July 2023
These wouldn’t be traditional canvas managed by ropes but could wind up as giant kites, spinning rotors or telescoping hard sails — like a folding airplane wing — that harness wind power to propel the vessel.
—William Booth, Washington Post, 7 July 2023
The mercenary warlord telescoped into a two-day tragicomic plot many of the baleful forces in Russian history and thought that Mr. Morson’s cherished authors dissected, dramatized—and often mocked.
—Boyd Tonkin, WSJ, 7 July 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'telescope.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
New Latin telescopium, from Greek tēleskopos farseeing, from tēle- tele- + skopos watcher; akin to Greek skopein to look — more at spy
First Known Use
Noun
1650, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1866, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1
Phrases Containing telescope
Articles Related to telescope
Dictionary Entries Near telescope
Cite this Entry
“Telescope.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telescope. Accessed 21 Sep. 2023.
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Kids Definition
telescope
1 of 2 noun
tele·scope
ˈtel-ə-ˌskōp
: a tubular instrument for viewing distant objects (as objects in outer space) by focusing light rays with mirrors or lenses
telescope
2 of 2 verb
telescoped; telescoping
1
: to slide or cause to slide one within another like the cylindrical sections of a hand telescope
2
: to run together like the sections of a telescope
More from Merriam-Webster on telescope
Nglish: Translation of telescope for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of telescope for Arabic Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about telescope
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