Power Suffixes: -scope

Have a close look at this list of words that include the suffix -scope, meaning "an instrument for observing." The Latinized scopium derives from the Greek skopein, "to look, to examine."
10 words 8,020 learners

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Full list of words from this list:

words only definitions & notes
  1. gyroscope
    rotating mechanism in the form of a mounted spinning wheel
    One of the satellite’s gyroscopes failed, which is a type of spinning rotor that is used by many spacecraft to help them point.The Verge (Jan 10, 2019)
  2. horoscope
    an astrological prediction of someone's future
    Mom called to tell me that, according to my horoscope in the Raleigh News and Observer, in two weeks I’ll get exactly what I’ve been striving for.The New Yorker (Apr 15, 2017)
  3. kaleidoscope
    an optical toy in a tube
    When you look through a kaleidoscope, the scene in front of you becomes a mosaic of tiles.Scientific American (Jun 26, 2015)
  4. laryngoscope
    a medical instrument for examining part of the throat
    Using a laryngoscope to examine Mr. Kennedy’s throat, Dr. Dahl saw that his vocal cords were inflamed.New York Times (Aug 8, 2018)
  5. microscope
    magnifier of the image of small objects
    Each day, at her microscope, examining the embryonic salmon for flaws in their structure, Claire looked at the large dark spots that were their primitive, unformed eyes.Son
  6. otoscope
    a medical instrument for examining the ear
    A clinical assistant gently pressed the tip of a video-equipped otoscope into Charles' ear, projecting images of the canal and eardrum on a second screen.US News (Sep 9, 2015)
  7. periscope
    an instrument providing a view of an obstructed field
    While present-day spectators typically use phones and selfie-sticks to see over crowds, those in 1947 got crafty, using hand mirrors, mirrors attached to sticks and periscopes to see over the crowds.Time (May 18, 2018)
  8. scope
    a magnifier of images of distant objects
    Using a scope that magnifies 700 times, her team found that none of the seven shampoos that claimed to reduce split ends actually worked as promised.New York Times (Feb 2, 2015)
  9. stethoscope
    a medical instrument for listening to sounds inside the body
    Dr. Hamid is there, a stethoscope pressed to Stella’s chest as she listens to her lungs.Five Feet Apart
  10. telescope
    a magnifier of images of distant objects
    Moving the telescope closer to the window, she spent some time mastering the knobs, bringing the leaves on the trees below into crisp focus.Fablehaven
Created on March 13, 2020 (updated March 20, 2020)

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