observatory

[ uhb-zur-vuh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee ]

noun

, plural ob·serv·a·to·ries.

1. a place or building equipped and used for making observations of astronomical, meteorological, or other natural phenomena, especially a place equipped with a powerful telescope for observing the planets and stars.
2. an institution that controls or carries on the work of such a place.
3. a place or structure that provides an extensive view; lookout.

observatory

/ -trɪ; əbˈzɜːvətərɪ /

noun

1. an institution or building specially designed and equipped for observing meteorological and astronomical phenomena
2. any building or structure providing an extensive view of its surroundings

Word History and Origins

Origin of observatory¹

1670–80; < Latin observā ( re ) to observe + -tory ²

Example Sentences

Lalas spent a formulative part of his childhood in Greece, where his father, Demetrius, a professor of mechanical engineering and meteorology, was director of the national observatory in Athens.

From Los Angeles Times

Central Park: This is what you’d get if you flattened Griffith Park, razed its observatory, shrunk its zoo, obliterated its golf courses and let the drum circle pound away all weekend.

From Los Angeles Times

"It is the largest, most sensitive space observatory ever built, and because of that, it has required new technologies that never existed before."

From Salon

Wade Rand said: "We are leaving for Scotland momentarily to get water and for the night. We are having a sailing party in the eighth deck observatory."

From BBC

Protests erupted at the base of the mountain in 2019, when Caletch and the University of California proposed construction of another observatory called the Thirty Meter Telescope.

From Los Angeles Times