telescopic

adjective

tele·​scop·​ic ˌte-lə-ˈskä-pik 

1

a

: of, relating to, or performed with a telescope

b

: suitable for seeing or magnifying distant objects

2

: seen or discoverable only by a telescope

telescopic stars

3

: able to discern objects at a distance

4

: having parts that telescope

telescopically

ˌte-lə-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of telescopic in a Sentence

The rifle has a telescopic sight.

Recent Examples on the Web

The smoke travels up almost 100 feet of steel and copper tubes to the chimney and the world beyond. 21h ago / 1:45 AM PDT Share Panini, water and a telescopic folding stool: how to survive the conclave Alexander Smith Reporting from Vatican City For the avid smokewatcher, preparation is key. —Katie Primm, NBC news, 9 May 2025

Benda The fairings over the upside-down telescopic fork legs create the appearance of a pre-war-style girder design. —New Atlas, 22 Jan. 2025

The tent also features three-layer waterproof-breathable fabric walls, a foam mattress, a telescopic ladder, and automotive-grade gas struts from Stabilus. —New Atlas, 28 Apr. 2025

The new space spans across five floors with a dedicated area for client care that includes repairs such as telescopic handle adjustments, zipper changes, and access to replacement wheels, locks and handles. —Hikmat Mohammed, Footwear News, 17 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for telescopic

• arthroscopic
• barotropic
• cystoscopic
• endoscopic
• gyroscopic
• hygroscopic
• isentropic
• isotopic
• isotropic
• macroscopic
• microscopic
• orthotopic

Kids Definition

telescopic

adjective

tele·​scop·​ic ˌtel-ə-ˈskäp-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or performed with a telescope

2

: seen or discoverable only by a telescope

telescopic stars

3

: able to discern objects at a distance

telescopic vision

4

: having parts that telescope

telescopically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb