verb / noun
scope
An optical device for examining distant or small objects.
She adjusts the scope to watch birds across the lake.
Etymology
Scope shortens telescope, microscope, and similar instrument-names. Their shared element comes from Greek skopein, “look or examine.”
More examples
- Through the scope, the technician sees tiny cracks in the sample.
- We scope out the neighborhood before choosing an apartment.
- She scopes the room for an empty seat.
Forms
scope · scopes · scoped · scoping
Similar words
- telescope
- Specifically views distant objects, rather than very small ones.
- microscope
- Specifically magnifies small objects or details, rather than distant objects.
- inspect
- Suggests a more careful, systematic examination than scope out.