stereoscope

American  

[ster-ee-uh-skohp, steer-] / ˈstɛr i əˌskoʊp, ˈstɪər- /

noun

1. an optical instrument through which two pictures of the same object, taken from slightly different points of view, are viewed, one by each eye, producing the effect of a single picture of the object, with the appearance of depth or relief.

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stereoscope British  

/ ˈstɪər-, ˈstɛrɪəˌskəʊp /

noun

1. an optical instrument for viewing two-dimensional pictures and giving them an illusion of depth and relief. It has a binocular eyepiece through which two slightly different pictures of the same object are viewed, one with each eye

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stereoscope Scientific  

/ stĕr′ē-ə-skōp′ /

1. An optical instrument through which two slightly different images (typically photographs) of the same scene are presented, one to each eye, providing an illusion of three dimensions. Modern virtual reality equipment often uses a stereoscope that presents animated, computer-generated images to the eyes, rather than photographic images.

2. ◆ A stereogram is a single pair of photographic images used in a stereograph.

3. See also stereoscopic vision

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Etymology

Origin of stereoscope

First recorded in 1830–40; stereo- + -scope

Example Sentences

Over the years, he has patented several ways to make a shallow three-dimensional picture that’s visible with the naked eye, often by strobing between two similar but incongruent frames like a kind of overlapping stereoscope.

From New York Times • Jun. 29, 2023

It numbered 4,500 images — different size glass negatives, stereoscope and nitrate negatives, prints and more.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 20, 2023

This is where the stereoscope comes in, because, whatever you think of the system that surrounds him, Joe Burrow stands for something like hope for many of his fans in both Louisiana and Ohio.

From The New Yorker • Jan. 14, 2020

In fact, Abovitz keeps a 19th century stereoscope in his office to illustrate how fire-bending — I mean, stereoscopic 3D — is ancient and allegedly obsolete.

From The Verge • Aug. 27, 2018

They are far from satisfying the shrewd test of the stereoscope, which shows if there has been an alteration even of a letter in two otherwise duplicate pages of print.

From Finger Prints by Galton, Francis, Sir