simple microscope

American  

noun

1. a microscope having a single lens.

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simple microscope British  

noun

1. a microscope having a single lens; magnifying glass Compare compound microscope

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Etymology

Origin of simple microscope

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

In 1658 by means of a simple microscope Athanasius Kircher of Fulda, Germany, saw "worms" in the blood of people stricken with Black Plague.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had a table in the middle of the room where he sat to look at his specimens through a magnifying glass or simple microscope, and to read his scientific papers.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Besides making these discoveries, he greatly improved the microscope and the telescope, and invented a simple microscope made of a globule of glass.

From A History of Science — Volume 2 by Williams, Henry Smith

They adhere in a curious manner by making little disks, like the Ampelopsis…By the way, I will enclose some specimens, and if you think it worth while, you can put them under the simple microscope.

From Life and Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

My instrument does certainly magnify to a marvellous extent, but not by the old device of the simple microscope, which merely focussed a large area of light rays into a small one.

From The Crack of Doom by Cromie, Robert