telescopic
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or of the nature of a telescope.
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capable of magnifying distant objects.
a telescopic lens.
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obtained by means of a telescope.
a telescopic view of the moon.
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capable of viewing objects from a distance; farseeing.
a telescopic eye.
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consisting of parts that slide one within another like the tubes of a jointed telescope and are thus capable of being extended or shortened.
adjective
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of or relating to a telescope
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seen through or obtained by means of a telescope
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visible only with the aid of a telescope
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able to see far
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having or consisting of parts that telescope
a telescopic umbrella
Other Word Forms
- nontelescopic adjective
- telescopically adverb
Etymology
Origin of telescopic
Explanation
If it has a lens that can magnify extremely far-away objects, it's telescopic. Another way objects can be telescopic is if they are made from a series of tubes that slide inside each other. Telescopes are the most obviously telescopic things — they magnify distant objects, like the moon, and sometimes have a series of tubes that slide out. Picture a pirate's telescopic spyglass, one type of telescope, which expands so the pirate can peer through it. If you use a camera with a telescopic lens, don’t stand too close to your subject because the lens might bonk them in the nose. Telescopic also describes something that’s only visible with a telescope, like a far-away star.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Testing by The Ladder Association found every extendable telescopic ladder it bought online failed safety checks.
From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026
For though bald eagles are capable predators in their own right—they sport telescopic vision and can see in ultraviolet—they’re not above letting other animals do their work for them.
From Slate • Feb. 21, 2026
“I’m recommending the cameras being aimed oceanward with a rotating telescopic lens and thermal imaging for night viewing,” Knoblock said.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 5, 2025
These satellites are now increasingly obstructing telescopic space exploration, both on the ground and in space.
From Salon • Feb. 13, 2024
But on his return to England, he eventually changed his tune and said that the telescopic observations were much better.
From "The Scientists" by John Gribbin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
