Definition of telescope
1 : a usually tubular optical instrument for viewing distant objects by means of the refraction of light rays through a lens or the reflection of light rays by a concave mirror — compare reflector, refractor
2 : any of various tubular magnifying optical instruments
3 : radio telescope
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Examples of telescope in a Sentence
The rings of Saturn can be seen through a telescope.
Origin and Etymology of telescope
New Latin telescopium, from Greek tēleskopos farseeing, from tēle- tele- + skopos watcher; akin to Greek skopein to look — more at spy
First Known Use: 1648
telescope
Definition of telescope
telescoped
;telescoping
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
1 : to cause to telescope
Examples of telescope in a Sentence
for dramatic purposes, the film telescopes the years over which the events occurred into a few short months
1867
First Known Use of telescope
1867
TELESCOPE Defined for English Language Learners
telescope
playDefinition of telescope for English Language Learners
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: a device shaped like a long tube that you look through in order to see things that are far away
telescope
Definition of telescope for English Language Learners
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: to become shorter by having one section slide inside another somewhat larger section
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: to make (something) shorter in length or time
TELESCOPE Defined for Kids
Definition of telescope for Students
: a piece of equipment shaped like a long tube that has lenses for viewing objects at a distance and especially for observing objects in outer space
Definition of telescope for Students
telescoped
;telescoping
: to slide or force one part into another
Learn More about telescope
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See words that rhyme with telescope Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for telescope Spanish Central: Translation of 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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