noun
kaleidoscope
kuh-LEYE-duh-skohp
noun
1
A tube-shaped toy that uses mirrors and loose coloured pieces to create shifting, symmetrical patterns when you look through it and turn it.
"The child spent an hour twisting the kaleidoscope, mesmerized by the patterns."
2
A constantly shifting mix of colours, impressions, or experiences.
"The festival was a kaleidoscope of music, food, and colour from a dozen different cultures."
How to Use Kaleidoscope
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the classic mirror-and-beads toy, or a figurative word for a vivid, ever-changing mix of things.
Common pairings
a kaleidoscope of colours
look through a kaleidoscope
a kaleidoscope of emotions
Word Forms
kaleidoscoped past tense, kaleidoscopes plural, kaleidoscopes singular
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The child spent an hour twisting the _____, mesmerized by the patterns.
Etymology
Coined in 1817 by Scottish scientist David Brewster from Greek kalos ("beautiful") + eidos ("shape") + "-scope" (an instrument for viewing) — literally "an instrument for viewing beautiful shapes."