telescopic

See also: telescòpic

English

A retractable telescope (spyglass). Sense 4 arose by reference to such devices.

Etymology

From tele- + -scopic, after telescope.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /tɛlɪˈskɒpɪk/
  • Rhymes: -ɒpɪk

Adjective

telescopic (comparative more telescopic, superlative most telescopic)

  1. Pertaining to, or carried out by means of, a telescope. [from 17th c.]
    • 2015, David Wootton, The Invention of Science, Penguin 2016, p. 197:
      Within a year or two of Galileo's telescopic discoveries no one disputed that the moon had mountains, Jupiter had moons, Venus had phases and the sun had spots […].
  2. (chiefly astronomy) Seen by means of a telescope; only visible through a telescope. [from 17th c.]
    telescopic stars
  3. Capable of seeing distant objects; far-seeing. [from 18th c.]
  4. Able to be extended or retracted by the use of parts that slide over one another. [from 19th c.]
    telescopic baton

Derived terms

Translations

See also

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