telescopic

adjective

tele·​scop·​ic ˌte-lə-ˈskä-pik How to pronounce telescopic (audio)
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 adverb

Examples of telescopic in a Sentence

The rifle has a telescopic sight.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See All Example Sentences for telescopic

Word History

First Known Use

1674, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of telescopic was in 1674

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Telescopic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/telescopic. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

telescopic

adjective
tele·​scop·​ic ˌtel-ə-ˈskäp-ik How to pronounce telescopic (audio)
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 adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on telescopic

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!