Definition

1. Noun:

   • An optical instrument for viewing distant objects: A device that uses lenses or mirrors to make faraway objects appear closer and larger, primarily used in astronomy.

2. Verb:

   • To shorten or condense: To reduce the length or duration of something by combining or omitting parts.
   • To slide or drive one section into another, like the tubes of a collapsible device: To collapse or be forced together in a series of concentric or overlapping sections.
   • (Of vehicles) to become compressed longitudinally in a collision: For the front or rear sections of vehicles to be driven into or over each other in an accident.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • She used a telescope to observe the craters on the moon.
  • The new space telescope has captured stunning images of distant galaxies.

• Verb (to shorten):

  • The editor had to telescope three chapters into one for the abridged edition.
  • He can telescope a two-hour lecture into a concise twenty-minute summary.

• Verb (to collapse sections):

  • These fishing rods telescope for easy storage in a car trunk.
  • The antenna telescopes down to a fraction of its full length.

• Verb (vehicle collision):

  • The force of the crash caused the train cars to telescope.
  • The bus was severely damaged when it telescoped into the truck ahead.

Advanced Usage

• "to telescope into": To be condensed or compressed into a much smaller space or time frame.
  • Decades of social change seemed to telescope into a few turbulent years.
• "telescoping effect": A term describing the compression of sequential events, making them seem closer together.
  • The documentary created a telescoping effect, making the century's wars appear simultaneous.

Variants and Related Words

• Telescopic (adjective): Relating to or seen through a telescope; capable of sliding or extending in sections.
  • The hiker used telescopic poles.
  • We observed telescopic views of the planet.
• Telescopically (adverb): In a telescopic manner.
  • The ladder extends telescopically.

Synonyms

• Noun: Spyglass, scope.
• Verb (shorten): Condense, compress, abbreviate, consolidate.
• Verb (collapse): Retract, collapse, shorten.

Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Telescope" is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The verb itself often incorporates the meaning of compression or shortening.)

Related Idioms

• "To telescope time": To make a long period seem much shorter, especially in narrative.
  • The film's montage skillfully telescopes time, showing the character's growth from child to adult in just two minutes.

Noun

1. a magnifier of images of distant objects

Verb

1. make smaller or shorter
   • the novel was telescoped into a short play
2. crush together or collapse
   • In the accident, the cars telescoped
   • my hiking sticks telescope and can be put into the backpack