Definition of telescope Telescope

/tɛˈlʌskowˌp/ - [teluskowp] - tel•e•scope

We found 16 definitions of telescope from 7 different sources.

What does telescope mean?

WordNet

Noun Plural: telescopes
telescope - a magnifier of images of distant objects
		scope
		magnifier a scientific instrument that magnifies an image
		aperture an man-made opening; usually small
		astronomical telescope any telescope designed to collect and record electromagnetic radiation from cosmic sources
		collimator optical device consisting of a tube containing a convex achromatic lens at one end and a slit at the other with the slit at the focus of the lens; light rays leave the slit as a parallel beam
		equatorial a telescope whose mounting has only two axes of motion, one parallel to the Earth's axis and the other one at right angles to it
		view finder, viewfinder, finder optical device that helps a user to find the target of interest
		optical prism, prism optical device having a triangular shape and made of glass or quartz; used to deviate a beam or invert an image
		solar telescope a telescope designed to make observations of the sun
Verb telescopes, telescoping, telescope
telescope - make smaller or shorter; "the novel was telescoped into a short play"
		condense, concentrate, digest undergo condensation; change from a gaseous to a liquid state and fall in drops; "water condenses"; "The acid distills at a specific temperature"
telescope - crush together or collapse; "In the accident, the cars telescoped"; "my hiking sticks telescope and can be put into the backpack"
		squash, mash, squelch, crush, squeeze to compress with violence, out of natural shape or condition; "crush an aluminum can"; "squeeze a lemon"

= synonym
= antonym
= related word

Wiktionary

telescope (Noun)
A monocular optical instrument possessing magnification for observing distant objects, especially in astronomy.
telescope (Noun)
Any instrument used in astronomy for observing distant objects such as a radio telescope .
telescope (Verb)
To extend or contract in the manner of a telescope.
telescope (Verb)
To slide or pass one within another, after the manner of the sections of a small telescope or spyglass.
telescope (Verb)
To come into collision, as railway cars, in such a manner that one runs into another.

Webster DictionaryWebster's Unabridged Dictionary 📘

telescope (n.)
An optical instrument used in viewing distant objects, as the heavenly bodies.
telescope (a.)
To slide or pass one within another, after the manner of the sections of a small telescope or spyglass; to come into collision, as railway cars, in such a manner that one runs into another.
telescope (v. t.)
To cause to come into collision, so as to telescope.

OmegaWiki DictionaryOmegaWiki Dictionary Ω

telescope
An optical instrument for observing distant objects.
telescope
To extend or contract in the manner of a telescope.

Chambers DictionaryChamber's 20th Century Dictionary 📕

telescope
tel′e-skōp, n. an optical instrument for viewing objects at a distance.—v.t. to drive together so that one thing, as a railway-carriage in a collision, slides into another like the movable joints of a spyglass.—v.i. to be forced into each other in such a way.—adjs. Telescop′ic, -al, pertaining to, performed by, or like a telescope: seen only by a telescope.—adv. Telescop′ically.—adj. Tel′escopiform.—ns. Tel′escopist, one who uses the telescope; Tel′escopy (or tē-les′-), the art of constructing or of using the telescope. [Fr.,—Gr. tēle, at a distance, skopein, to see.]

Wikipedia

A telescope is an important tool for astronomy. The telescope gathers and focuses light. Telescopes make things seem bigger and brighter. Galileo was the first person to use a telescope for astronomy, but he did not invent them. Telescopes not used for astronomy can be named "transits", "spotting scopes", "monoculars", "binoculars," "camera lenses", or "spyglasses".

The word "telescope" is usually used for light your eyes can see, but there are telescopes for "invisible" light. Infrared telescopes look like normal telescopes, but have to be kept cold since infrared light is heat. Radio telescopes are like radio antennas, usually shaped like large dishes. X-ray and gamma-ray telescopes have a problem because the rays go through most metals and glasses. To solve this problem, they are shaped like a bunch of rings inside each other.

The first telescope was invented in the Netherlands in 1608.