kaleidoscope
[ kuh-lahy-duh-skohp ]
/ kəˈlaɪ dəˌskoʊp /
noun
an optical instrument in which bits of glass, held loosely at the end of a rotating tube, are shown in continually changing symmetrical forms by reflection in two or more mirrors set at angles to each other.
a continually changing pattern of shapes and colors.
a continually shifting pattern, scene, or the like: The 1920s were a kaleidoscope of fads and fashions.
Origin of kaleidoscope
Words nearby kaleidoscope
kalashnikov,
kalat,
kalathos,
kalb,
kale,
kaleidoscope,
kaleidoscopic,
kalemia,
kalemie,
kalendar,
kalends
Example sentences from the Web for kaleidoscope
British Dictionary definitions for kaleidoscope
kaleidoscope
/ (kəˈlaɪdəˌskəʊp) /
noun
an optical toy for producing symmetrical patterns by multiple reflections in inclined mirrors enclosed in a tube. Loose pieces of coloured glass, paper, etc, are placed between transparent plates at the far end of the tube, which is rotated to change the pattern
any complex pattern of frequently changing shapes and colours
a complicated set of circumstances
Derived forms of kaleidoscope
kaleidoscopic (kəˌlaɪdəˈskɒpɪk), adjective kaleidoscopically, adverbWord Origin for kaleidoscope
C19: from Greek
kalos beautiful +
eidos form +
-scope