otoscope

American  

[oh-tuh-skohp] / ˈoʊ təˌskoʊp /

noun

Medicine/Medical.

1. an instrument for examining the external canal and tympanic membrane of the ear.

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otoscope British  

/ ˌəʊtəʊˈskɒpɪk, ˈəʊtəʊˌskəʊp /

noun

1. another name for auriscope

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Other Word Forms

• otoscopic adjective
• otoscopy noun

Etymology

Origin of otoscope

First recorded in 1840–50; oto- + -scope

Explanation

If you've ever had even a basic checkup at the doctor, you've had an otoscope stuck in your ear — it's what your doctor uses to examine the inside of your ear. Being examined with an otoscope is completely painless, but it can feel a little strange. This instrument has a magnifying lens and a small light that allows your doctor to see parts of your ear canal that would otherwise be hidden. Occasionally, this tool is also called an auriscope. Otoscope has Greek roots, oto from ous, "ear," and scope, from skopein, "to look at."

Example Sentences

Standard tools like an otoscope, a device used to inspect the ear canal, are often hard to come by.

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2022

Every doctor had a bottle of alcohol each, a bottle of hand sanitizer, a stethoscope and an otoscope — that’s it.

From Washington Post • Oct. 10, 2018

Oto, the modern otoscope using a smartphone camera, automatically produces an image of the patient’s ear, making it easy to detect infection.

From Forbes • Jul. 1, 2014

"Oww, that hurts!" she says, wincing as he inserts an otoscope into each nostril.

From Time Magazine Archive

Chavez took an otoscope, an instrument used to examine eyes, ears, nose, and throat, and switched on the tiny light.

From The Electronic Mind Reader by Blaine, John