microscope
noun
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.
microscopes
-
pluralof microscope.plural
The grammatical form denoting more than one person, place, thing, or idea.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Electron microscopes can reveal structures far smaller than anything visible with ordinary light.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 13, 2026
Scientists observed oysters in glass vats, dissected their innards and studied their anatomy under microscopes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
The team studied the bone with 3D scanning technology and electron microscopes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 27, 2026
Modern MRI reveals the whole brain but lacks cellular detail; microscopes reveal individual cells but only in isolated slices.
From BBC ● Jul. 13, 2026
Telescopes and microscopes depended on pre-existing techniques for making lenses, and thermometers and barometers depended on pre-existing techniques for blowing glass.
From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton
