Telescope: meaning, definitions and examples

Used in both general and scientific contexts to describe an optical instrument that makes distant objects appear closer and more detailed.

• The astronomer used a powerful telescope to observe the stars
• My parents bought me a small telescope for my birthday

Typically refers to a small, hand-held telescope used by sailors and explorers to observe distant objects; often has a historical or nautical connotation.

• The pirate captain used his spyglass to spot distant ships
• She felt like an explorer as she looked through the old spyglass

An old-fashioned or poetic term for a telescope, rarely used in modern language.

• He peered through the captain's glass at the approaching ships
• The old sailor always had his trusty glass by his side

A colloquial abbreviation of 'telescope' often used in casual conversation or in certain professional jargon, such as among hunters for rifle scopes.

• Hunters often use a scope to aim at distant targets
• The scientist carefully adjusted the scope on his instrument