Definition

1. Noun:
   • A dark-field microscope is a type of light microscope that uses a specialized illumination technique. Instead of shining light directly through the specimen, it illuminates the sample with light at a sharp angle. This causes only light scattered by the specimen to enter the objective lens, making small particles or structures appear bright against a dark background.

Usage

• Noun:
  • The biologist used a dark-field microscope to observe live, unstained bacteria.
  • A dark-field microscope is essential for viewing specimens that are transparent and difficult to see with standard bright-field illumination.

Advanced Usage

• "Dark-field microscopy": The technique or field of using a dark-field microscope.
  • Dark-field microscopy revealed intricate details of the cell's flagella.
• "Dark-field illumination": The specific lighting method employed by this microscope.
  • The sample was prepared for dark-field illumination to enhance contrast.

Variants and Related Words

• Dark-field microscopy (n): The microscopy technique itself.
• Dark ground microscope (n): An alternative, less common name for a dark-field microscope.

Synonyms

• Dark ground microscope
• Ultramicroscope (Note: This is a specific type of dark-field microscope used for observing particles smaller than the wavelength of light.)

Related Phrases

• To view under dark-field: To observe using dark-field microscopy.
  • The spirochetes were viewed under dark-field.

Noun

1. light microscope that uses scattered light to show particles too small to see with ordinary microscopes