Origin: Greek suffix -scope
Telescope has 5 different meanings across 2 categories:
A monocular optical instrument that magnifies distant objects, especially in astronomy.
"The amateur astronomer adjusted his telescope to catch a clearer view of the distant moon craters."
In plain English: A telescope is an instrument with lenses that makes distant objects look closer and clearer.
"The student used his telescope to look at the moon through the window."
Usage: Use this noun to describe an optical device with adjustable lenses used for viewing distant stars or landscapes. Avoid confusing it with "microscope," which is designed specifically for examining very small nearby objects.
crush together or collapse
"In the accident, the cars telescoped"
"my hiking sticks telescope and can be put into the backpack"
To extend or contract in the manner of a telescope.
"The accordion's bellows extended and contracted as he played, moving like a collapsing telescope."
In plain English: To telescope means to compress something into a smaller space by folding it up, often so that parts fit inside each other.
"The storm seemed to telescope our short vacation into what felt like an endless week of rain."
The word telescope comes from Ancient Greek, combining elements that mean "far" and "to look." It was first coined in 1611 by Giovanni Demisiani to describe one of Galileo's instruments shown at a banquet for the Accademia dei Lincei.