microscope

Everyday

A scientific instrument with lenses that makes very small things look much bigger, so you can see things too small for your eyes alone, like cells and germs. tree →

In the lessons

In science lessons: we look at onion skin, pond water, hair and leaves under a microscope; you place a slide on the stage, use the lenses, and focus with knobs. Microscopes helped scientists discover cells and bacteria. Phrases: «under a microscope», «look through a microscope», «put under the microscope» (study very closely).

Examples

• We looked at a drop of pond water under the microscope. tree →
• The microscope makes the cells look 100 times bigger. tree →
• Turn the knob slowly to focus the microscope. tree →
• Germs are too small to see without a microscope. tree →
• Carry the microscope with two hands. tree →
• Her work was put under the microscope by the judges. tree →

Note

Countable. Built from Greek «micro» (small) + «scope» (look). Adjective: microscopic (too small to see without a microscope). A telescope is for far things, a microscope for tiny things. Magnification: «×100» means 100 times bigger.