Meaning & use

periscope

noun·Advanced

An optical instrument with mirrors or prisms that lets a viewer see over or around an obstacle.

See it in a sentence

The submarine crew used the periscope to scan the surface for passing ships.

The children built a cardboard periscope so they could see over the tall fence.

A note on using this word

Periscope combines 'peri-' (around) with '-scope' (viewing instrument), the same pattern seen in telescope.

Words with a similar meaning

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