compound microscope

noun

1. an optical instrument for forming magnified images of small objects, consisting of an objective lens with a very short focal length and an eyepiece with a longer focal length, both lenses mounted in the same tube.

compound microscope

noun

1. an instrument for magnifying small objects, consisting of a lens of short focal length for forming an image that is further magnified by a second lens of longer focal length Compare simple microscope

Word History and Origins

Origin of compound microscope¹

First recorded in 1865–70