What does "microscope" mean?

1. (scientific instrument) a piece of equipment that makes very small things look much larger so you can study them. 2. (to examine closely) to look at something very carefully using a microscope or as if you are using one.

How do you use "microscope"?

Countable noun; often used with the verbs 'use', 'look through', or 'examine under'. Transitive verb; the figurative use is more common in journalistic or academic contexts than the literal verb.

microscope

n. · v.

US //ˈmaɪkɹəˌskoʊp// UK //mˈaɪkɹəskˌəʊp// mi·cro·scope

1 scientific instrument (n.)
A2 Elementary Science

a piece of equipment that makes very small things look much larger so you can study them.

an optical or electronic instrument used for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.

Example

The students used a microscope to look at the tiny cells in a leaf.

Example

The laboratory is equipped with a high-resolution electron microscope capable of imaging structures at the molecular level.

Usage

Countable noun; often used with the verbs 'use', 'look through', or 'examine under'.
- magnifier
- telescope
2 to examine closely (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Formal

to look at something very carefully using a microscope or as if you are using one.

to examine an object or specimen using a microscope; also used figuratively to describe intense scrutiny.

Example

The scientist had to microscope the sample to find the bacteria.

Example

The auditor began to microscope every line of the financial report, looking for any sign of discrepancy.

Usage

Transitive verb; the figurative use is more common in journalistic or academic contexts than the literal verb.
- ignore
- glance

Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós) Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai) Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō) Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ium Latin mīcroscopiumlbor. Italian microscopiobor. English microscope From New Latin microscopium and Italian microscopio, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) + σκοπέω (skopéō, “I look at”), equivalent to micro- + -scope.

Word family

Nounmicroscope
Nounmicroscopy
Adjectivemicroscopic

Idioms1 entry

01
under the microscope
Under close scrutiny or examination.