What does "telescope" mean?

1. (optical instrument) a tube-shaped tool that uses lenses or mirrors to make distant objects look larger and closer. 2. (astronomical device) any large scientific machine used to collect signals from space, like radio waves. 3. (to slide together) to slide parts of an object inside each other to make it shorter or longer. 4. (to shorten or condense) to make something much shorter or to combine many things into one.

telescope

n. · v.

US //ˈtɛɫəˌskoʊp// UK //tˈɛlɪskˌəʊp// tele·scope

1 optical instrument (n.)
A2 Elementary Science

a tube-shaped tool that uses lenses or mirrors to make distant objects look larger and closer.

an optical instrument designed to make distant objects appear nearer, containing an arrangement of lenses, or of curved mirrors and lenses.

Example

He spent the night looking through his telescope at the craters on the moon.

Example

The observatory houses a massive reflecting telescope capable of capturing light from galaxies millions of light-years away.
- spyglass
- scope
- microscope
2 astronomical device (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

any large scientific machine used to collect signals from space, like radio waves.

any instrument used in astronomy for observing distant objects by collecting and focusing electromagnetic radiation.

Example

The scientists used a giant radio telescope to listen for signals from deep space.

Example

The array consists of several individual telescopes working in unison to provide high-resolution data of the solar system's outer reaches.
- radio telescope

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3 to slide together (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical

to slide parts of an object inside each other to make it shorter or longer.

to slide or pass one section within another, typically to shorten or lengthen a tubular object.

Example

The handle of the suitcase can telescope down so it is easier to store.

Example

The tripod legs are designed to telescope, allowing the photographer to adjust the height quickly on uneven terrain.
- expand
- extend
4 to shorten or condense (v.)
C1 Advanced Academic Formal

to make something much shorter or to combine many things into one.

to condense or compress a period of time or a series of events into a shorter duration.

Example

The director had to telescope the long book into a two-hour movie.

Example

The curriculum was telescoped into a single semester, forcing students to master complex concepts at an accelerated pace.
- prolong
- expand

Origin

From tele- + -scope. From Latin tēlescopium, from Ancient Greek τηλεσκόπος (tēleskópos, “far-seeing”), from τῆλε (têle, “afar”) + σκοπέω (skopéō, “I look at”). Coined in 1611 by the Greek mathematician Giovanni Demisiani for one of Galileo Galilei's instruments presented at a banquet at the Accademia dei Lincei. Doublet of Telescopium.

Word family

Nountelescope
Adjectivetelescopic