kaleidoscope
|ka-lei-do-scope|
🇺🇸
/kəˈlaɪ.dəˌskoʊp/
🇬🇧
/kəˈlaɪ.də.skəʊp/
changing patterns
Etymology
'kaleidoscope' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'kalos' meaning 'beautiful', 'eidos' meaning 'form', and 'skopein' meaning 'to look'.
'kaleidoscope' was coined in the early 19th century by Sir David Brewster, combining Greek words to describe the optical instrument.
Initially, it referred specifically to the optical instrument, but over time it evolved to describe any constantly changing pattern or sequence.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a tube-shaped optical instrument that contains loose bits of colored glass or plastic and mirrors that reflect images of these bits of glass in a symmetrical pattern when the tube is rotated.
She looked through the kaleidoscope and marveled at the colorful patterns.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:42