Mi'cro-scōpe, n.

n. [Fr. microscope, It. & Sp. microscopio, from Gr. μικρός, small, little, and σκοπεῖν, σκέπτεσθαι, to view.] An optical instrument, consisting of a lens, or combination of lenses, for examining objects which are too minute to be viewed by the naked eye.

Compound microscope, an instrument consisting of one or more object lenses, usually achromatic, and an eye-piece for viewing the image formed by them, with suitable mounting for convenient use.—Oxy-hydrogen microscope and Solar microscope. See OXYHYDROGEN and SOLAR.—Single microscope, a single convex lens used to magnify objects placed in its focus.