opera-glasses

A woman uses her opera-glasses to watch the performance from the balcony.

Definition

Noun (plural only):
A small pair of binoculars designed for use at the opera or theater, typically with low magnification and a compact, elegant design.

Usage Examples

• (A compact viewing device for theatrical events.)
• (Decorative, low-power binoculars used in formal settings.)

Advanced Usage

• "to raise one's opera-glasses": to use opera-glasses to observe something or someone closely, often in a theatrical or social context.
  • The critic raised his opera-glasses to study the costume details during the second act. (He used the binoculars for a more detailed view.)

Variants and Related Words

• Opera glass (n, singular): A single tube of such binoculars; sometimes used interchangeably with the plural form.

  • He held the opera glass to one eye to see the stage better. (A single-lens device.)

• Binoculars (n, plural): A general term for a pair of optical devices with two tubes, used for magnification, of which opera-glasses are a specific type.

Synonyms

• Theater binoculars: A synonym emphasizing their use in theatrical settings.
• Lorgnette: A pair of opera-glasses attached to a handle, often used in historical contexts.

Related Idioms

• "opera-glasses view": A metaphorical phrase meaning a close-up, selective perspective, as if looking through opera-glasses.
  • From the balcony, we had an opera-glasses view of the orchestra pit. (A limited but detailed perspective.)