microscope
- 01 A2 Elementary
n.a piece of equipment that makes very small things look much larger so you can study them.
n.an optical or electronic instrument used for viewing objects that are too small to be seen by the naked eye.
Simple“The students used a microscope to look at the tiny cells in a leaf.”
In context“The laboratory is equipped with a high-resolution electron microscope capable of imaging structures at the molecular level.”
UsageCountable noun; often used with the verbs 'use', 'look through', or 'examine under'.
SynonymsmagnifierAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
v.to look at something very carefully using a microscope or as if you are using one.
v.to examine an object or specimen using a microscope; also used figuratively to describe intense scrutiny.
Simple“The scientist had to microscope the sample to find the bacteria.”
In context“The auditor began to microscope every line of the financial report, looking for any sign of discrepancy.”
UsageTransitive verb; the figurative use is more common in journalistic or academic contexts than the literal verb.
Synonyms
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.