telescopic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of a telescope.
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capable of magnifying distant objects.
a telescopic lens.
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obtained by means of a telescope.
a telescopic view of the moon.
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capable of viewing objects from a distance; farseeing.
a telescopic eye.
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consisting of parts that slide one within another like the tubes of a jointed telescope and are thus capable of being extended or shortened.
adjective
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of or relating to a telescope
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seen through or obtained by means of a telescope
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visible only with the aid of a telescope
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able to see far
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having or consisting of parts that telescope
a telescopic umbrella
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of telescopic
Explanation
If it has a lens that can magnify extremely far-away objects, it's telescopic. Another way objects can be telescopic is if they are made from a series of tubes that slide inside each other. Telescopes are the most obviously telescopic things — they magnify distant objects, like the moon, and sometimes have a series of tubes that slide out. Picture a pirate's telescopic spyglass, one type of telescope, which expands so the pirate can peer through it. If you use a camera with a telescopic lens, don’t stand too close to your subject because the lens might bonk them in the nose. Telescopic also describes something that’s only visible with a telescope, like a far-away star.
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.
The van was outfitted with a custom-built telescopic weather instrument extending from the roof.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 21, 2026
Mr Holding, from Beckenham in south-east London, became trapped underneath the telescopic urinal, which dropped on him while he was working on the device, his inquest was told.
From BBC ● Feb. 8, 2025
Duane Garcia, a 75-year-old musician who told me he served in Vietnam as a Marine, carries a telescopic baton and a pocket knife at all times.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2024
These satellites are now increasingly obstructing telescopic space exploration, both on the ground and in space.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2024
The bin had to be emptied, and I couldn’t operate the loader—a massive forklift with a telescopic arm and wide, black wheels that were taller than I was.
From "Educated" by Tara Westover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
