noun

microscope

MEYE-kruh-skohp

noun

An instrument that uses lenses (or other means) to magnify very small objects so they can be seen clearly.

"The students examined the cells under a microscope."

"Electron microscopes can magnify objects millions of times."

How to Use Microscope

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishAn instrument for magnifying tiny objects that are otherwise invisible to the naked eye.

Common pairings

under a microscope examine under the microscope put something under the microscope (figuratively)

microscoped past tense, microscopes plural, microscopes singular

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Can you complete this real example?

The students examined the cells under a _____.

From Greek mikros ("small") and skopein ("to look at"), borrowed via New Latin and Italian — literally an instrument "to look at small things."

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