binoculars

English

A pair of binoculars

Etymology

Abbreviation of "binocular glass".

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈbɪnˌɒk.jʊ.lə(ɹ)z/, /ˈbənˌɒk.jə.lə(ɹ)z/
  • (file)

Noun

binoculars pl (normally plural, singular binocular)

  1. A hand-held device consisting of a series of lenses and prisms, used to magnify objects so that they can be better seen from a distance, and looked at through both eyes.
    • 1956, Delano Ames, chapter 14, in Crime out of Mind:
      He gazed around until on the lid of a spinet he spotted a promising collection of bottles, gin, whiskey, vermouth and sherry, mixed with violin bows, a flute, a toppling pile of books, six volumes of Grove's Dictionary mingled with paperback thrillers, a guitar without any strings, a pair of binoculars, a meerschaum pipe and a jar half-full of wasps and apricot jam.

Usage notes

  • A single device is called a pair of binoculars, and the plural "pairs of binoculars" is used for more than one device.

Synonyms

Translations

See also

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