simple microscope

American  

noun

1. a microscope having a single lens.

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simple microscope British  

noun

1. a microscope having a single lens; magnifying glass Compare compound microscope

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Etymology

Origin of simple microscope

First recorded in 1720–30

Example Sentences

In 1658 by means of a simple microscope Athanasius Kircher of Fulda, Germany, saw "worms" in the blood of people stricken with Black Plague.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had a table in the middle of the room where he sat to look at his specimens through a magnifying glass or simple microscope, and to read his scientific papers.

From "Charles and Emma: The Darwins' Leap of Faith" by Deborah Heiligman

Now I want to beg you to look under the simple microscope at the enclosed leaves and seeds, and, if you possibly can, tell me their genera.

From More Letters of Charles Darwin — Volume 2 by Darwin, Francis, Sir

The simple microscope—Use of the simple microscope in the telescope—The terrestrial telescope—The Galilean telescope—The prismatic telescope—The reflecting telescope—The parabolic mirror—The compound microscope—The magic-lantern—The bioscope—The plane mirror.

From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Williams, Archibald

It was plainly divided, as sketched by me under a simple microscope, by transverse opaque partitions, which I presume represent the great cells figured by Kowalevsky.

From The Descent of Man and Selection in Relation to Sex, Vol. I by Darwin, Charles