telescope

noun, often attributive

tele·scope | \ ˈte-lə-ˌskōp

Definition of telescope

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

telescope

verb

telescoped; telescoping

Definition of telescope (Entry 2 of 2)

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

2 : compress, condense

Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Learn More about telescope

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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: Noun

Two years ago, a team of scientists used an incredibly advanced telescope to observe two neutron stars in a distant galaxy colliding together in a super explosion. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Two Neutron Stars Exploded in Our Cosmic Backyard Billions of Years Ago," 3 May 2019 Besides, the only conventional way to see an object across 55 million light years of space is to build a telescope dish the size of Earth. — Sam Walker, WSJ, "Behind the Black-Hole Image: One Giant Leap for Teamwork," 20 Apr. 2019 Using a global network of telescopes called the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration (EHT). — Vogue, "Is the Black Hole a Glazed Donut? And Other Deep Thoughts About the Universe," 10 Apr. 2019 At the same time, NASA’s successor to Kepler, the TESS telescope, was launched into orbit. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "NASA's Newest Planet-Hunting Telescope Has Already Found an Earth-like World," 17 Apr. 2019 At midday, Loeb leaves the telescope and his office and descends to a bare white classroom to introduce the basics of astrophysics to a dozen new students. — Avi Selk, The Seattle Times, "Harvard’s top astronomer says an alien ship may be among us – and he doesn’t care what his colleagues think," 4 Feb. 2019 In October 2017, astronomers operating the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Maui found a bizarre cigar-shaped rock blazing its way through our solar system. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "Oumuamua is the only interstellar object we’ve ever seen in our solar system. What is it?," 6 Nov. 2018 These tools are a bit like steering wheels inside the telescope that measure how fast a vehicle is turning. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "After briefly going offline, NASA’s Chandra X-ray space telescope is back in action," 15 Oct. 2018 But even with multiple telescopes pointing at Sagittarius A* for the better part of two years, imaging a black hole is not easy. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "We Might Be About to See the First Ever Photo of a Black Hole," 1 Apr. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Each additional observatory makes that equivalent telescope bigger and more sensitive. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "Behind the Scenes of the First Black Hole Photo," 12 Apr. 2019 The red steel pillars of the station hurtled by, and then the grotty cavern walls of the tunnel, its bare light bulbs and heavy cables telescoping past. — William Finnegan, The New Yorker, "Can Andy Byford Save the Subways?," 2 July 2018 Justices are already considering another appeal challenging the state land board’s decision to allow the University of Hawaii to sublease mountaintop land to telescope builders. — Washington Post, "Giant telescope project before Hawaii Supreme Court again," 21 June 2018 The vehicle is heavily armed, with a 40-millimeter gun firing cased telescoped ammunition. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "France’s New Armored Car Does Not Mess Around," 17 May 2018 That car, which bowed in 1989, was priced well below its competitors and offered Japanese reliability alongside new features such as an automatic tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel and power-adjustable seat belts. — Daniel Miller, latimes.com, "The Genesis G90 is a luxurious opening act for the new brand — and definitely not a Hyundai," 11 May 2018 The adaptation by Ursula Rani Sarma effectively telescopes the epic plot. — Charles Mcnulty, latimes.com, "The women of 'A Thousand Splendid Suns,' casting a spell onstage," 5 June 2018 The restaurant has become very popular very quickly with a combination of good food, reasonable pricing and a casual but celebratory interior that telescopes the experience. — Michael Bauer, San Francisco Chronicle, "Gran Electrica in Napa: Mexican cuisine straight outta Brooklyn," 31 May 2018 Cased telescoped ammo, in which the projectile is fully enclosed in a shell casing, is only now coming into common use with modern armies and results in a more compact projectile. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "France’s New Armored Car Does Not Mess Around," 17 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'telescope.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.