microscope

American  

[mahy-kruh-skohp] / ˈmaɪ krəˌskoʊp /

noun

1. an optical instrument having a magnifying lens or a combination of lenses for inspecting objects too small to be seen or too small to be seen distinctly and in detail by the unaided eye.

2. Astronomy. Microscope, the constellation Microscopium.

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microscope British  

/ ˈmaɪkrəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. an optical instrument that uses a lens or combination of lenses to produce a magnified image of a small, close object. Modern optical microscopes have magnifications of about 1500 to 2000 See also simple microscope compound microscope ultramicroscope

2. any instrument, such as the electron microscope, for producing a magnified visual image of a small object

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microscope Scientific  

/ mī′krə-skōp′ /

1. Any of various instruments used to magnify small objects that are difficult or impossible to observe the naked eye.

2. ◆ Optical microscopes use light reflected from or passed through the sample being observed to form a magnified image of the object, refracting the light with an arrangement of lenses and mirrors similar to those found in telescopes.

3. See also atomic force microscope electron microscope field ion microscope

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microscope Cultural  

1. A device that produces a magnified image of objects too small to be seen with the naked eye. Such objects are thus called “microscopic.” The microscope is widely used in medicine and biology. Common microscopes use lenses; others, such as electron microscopes, scan an object with electrons, x-rays, and other radiation besides ordinary visible light.

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Etymology

Origin of microscope

First recorded in 1650–60; from New Latin mīcroscopium; micro-, -scope

Example Sentences

Microsculptures on display in the exhibition include artwork in the eye of a needle, on a pin head and one inside a single human hair - all so small they are only seen through microscopes.

From BBC

They created a new type of terahertz microscope that compresses this long-wavelength light into an extremely small region.

From Science Daily

Decision making is something that comes under the microscope at the moments of the most intensity.

From BBC

Back in Cirencester, Dr David O'Connor showed me a new kind of "elemental microscope" that can be used to identify traces of dangerous elements in soil.

From BBC

The best picture blunder has kept “Moonlight” and “La La Land” under the microscope for nine years now, and made the incident the blueprint for each ensuing Oscar season’s inevitable drama.

From Salon