Definition

Noun: An optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyes, used for viewing distant objects. It consists of two small telescopes mounted side-by-side, allowing for binocular vision and a three-dimensional perspective.

Usage

"Field glasses" is a noun. It is typically used in its plural form. The term is often used interchangeably with "binoculars," though it can sometimes imply a specific design, such as older or simpler models without modern prism systems. It is commonly used in contexts like birdwatching, sports events, theater, and military observation.

Examples

• We used a pair of field glasses to watch the birds nesting across the lake.
• The sailor scanned the horizon with his field glasses, looking for land.
• For the opera, she brought her elegant mother-of-pearl field glasses.

Advanced Usage

• "A pair of field glasses": The standard collocation, as the instrument comprises two connected parts.
  • He handed me a pair of field glasses so I could see the stage clearly.
• Used attributively (as a noun modifier) to describe a related item.
  • The leather field glasses case was worn but still functional.

Variants and Related Words

• Binoculars (n.): The more common modern term for the same instrument. While often synonymous, "binoculars" is a broader category that includes various optical designs (e.g., roof prism, Porro prism).
• Opera glasses (n.): A specific, often decorative, type of low-magnification binoculars designed for use in theaters.
• Spyglass (n.) / Telescope (n.): A monocular optical instrument for viewing distant objects, designed for use with one eye.

Synonyms

• Binoculars
• (Rarely) Binocular

Idioms and Phrases

• To train one's field glasses on something: To point and focus the field glasses on a specific object or area.
  • The naturalist trained her field glasses on the elusive eagle's nest.

Noun

1. an optical instrument designed for simultaneous use by both eyes