Definition of MICROSCOPE

microscope

Meanings

Plural: microscopes

Noun

  • magnifier of the image of small objects
    • "the invention of the microscope led to the discovery of the cell"
  • An optical instrument used for observing small objects.
  • Any instrument for imaging very small objects (such as an electron microscope).

Verb

  • To examine with a microscope, to put under a microscope (literally or figuratively).

Origin / Etymology

Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.?
Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós)
Proto-Indo-European *speḱ-
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti
Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai
Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai)
Proto-Hellenic *-os
Ancient Greek -ος (-os)
Ancient Greek -ός (-ós)
Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós)
Proto-Indo-European *-eti
Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-yeti
Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti
Ancient Greek -έω (-éō)
Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō)
Proto-Indo-European *-yós
Old Latin -ios
Latin -ius
Latin -ium
Latin mīcroscopiumlbor.
Italian microscopiobor.
English microscope
From New Latin microscopium and Italian microscopio, from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”) + σκοπέω (skopéō, “I look at”), equivalent to micro- + -scope.

Synonyms

microscopize

Scrabble Score: 18

microscope is a valid Scrabble (US) TWL word
microscope is a valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
microscope is a valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 22

microscope is a valid Words With Friends word