telescope
TEHL-ih-skohp
Telescope (noun) means an optical instrument that makes distant objects look closer and larger, especially used to view the night sky. Example: “He set up his telescope in the garden to look at Saturn's rings.”
noun
1
An optical instrument that makes distant objects look closer and larger, especially used to view the night sky.
"He set up his telescope in the garden to look at Saturn's rings."
"The observatory's telescope can photograph galaxies millions of light-years away."
"The class took turns looking at the moon through the school's new telescope."
verb
1
To slide sections into one another so the whole thing collapses shorter, like the tube of a telescope.
"The front carriages telescoped into each other in the crash."
"You can telescope the tripod's legs down for easy storage."
"The pole can telescope out to twice its length when you pull the end."
How to use telescope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe instrument for viewing distant things (especially stars), or — as a verb — to collapse in sliding, overlapping sections like its tube does.
Common pairings
look through a telescope
telescope into each other
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Word forms
- Plural
- telescopes
- Third person singular
- telescopes
- Past tense
- telescoped
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He set up his _____ in the garden to look at Saturn's rings.
Etymology
From tele- ("far") and -scope ("to look at"), via Latin tēlescopium and Greek τηλεσκόπος. The word was coined in 1611 for one of Galileo's instruments.
Class of 1611
telescope joined the language around 1611.
See the full Class of 1611 →
Synonyms
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Rhymes for telescope
See all rhymes for telescope →Frequently asked questions
What does “telescope” mean?
The word “telescope” means an optical instrument that makes distant objects look closer and larger, especially used to view the night sky. In plain terms, the instrument for viewing distant things (especially stars), or — as a verb — to collapse in sliding, overlapping sections like its tube does.
How do you pronounce “telescope”?
“Telescope” is pronounced TEHL-ih-skohp (/ˈtɛl.əˌskoʊp/ in IPA).
How do you use “telescope” in a sentence?
Here is “telescope” used in a sentence: “He set up his telescope in the garden to look at Saturn's rings.”
What part of speech is “telescope”?
Depending on how it is used, “telescope” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “telescope” come from?
The word “telescope” dates back to around 1611 and comes from Latin. From tele- ("far") and -scope ("to look at"), via Latin tēlescopium and Greek τηλεσκόπος. The word was coined in 1611 for one of Galileo's instruments.
Is “telescope” a common word?
“Telescope” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “telescope” have?
“Telescope” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an optical instrument that makes distant objects look closer and larger, especially used to view the night sky.
What is the difference between a telescope and binoculars?
A telescope is a single optical tube designed mainly for viewing distant objects such as stars and planets, often mounted on a stand for stability, while binoculars use two lenses side by side for handheld, two-eyed viewing at closer range. Telescopes generally offer much higher magnification and are better suited to astronomy, whereas binoculars are more portable and versatile for everyday use.
What does it mean when plans "telescope" into a shorter timeframe?
When something telescopes, it collapses or compresses the way the sliding sections of a telescope tube do, so events, schedules, or stages get squeezed into a shorter period. For example, saying a project's timeline telescoped means several planned phases ended up happening much closer together than originally intended.
Can "telescope" be used as a verb outside of astronomy?
Yes, telescope is commonly used as a verb to describe anything sliding or collapsing into itself, such as a car's front end telescoping in a crash or a multi-step process telescoping into one quick step. This figurative use comes directly from the way a telescope's tube sections retract into each other.
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