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Kaleidoscope
Definitions
- 1 An instrument consisting of a tube containing mirrors and loose, colourful beads or other objects; when the tube is looked into and rotated, a succession of symmetrical designs can be seen.
"The Kaleidoscope (from καλος beautiful, ειδος a form, and σκοπεω to see) is an instrument for creating and exhibiting an infinite variety of beautiful forms, and is constructed in such a manner as either to please the eye, by an ever-varying succession of splendid tints and symmetrical forms, or to enable the observer to render permanent such as may appear most appropriate for any of the numerous branches of the ornamental arts."
- 2 an optical toy in a tube; it produces symmetrical patterns as bits of colored glass are reflected by mirrors wordnet
- 3 A constantly changing series of colours or other things. figuratively
"[T]his rainbow look'd like hope— / Quite a celestial kaleidoscope."
- 4 a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes wordnet
- 5 A swarm of butterflies. collective
- 1 To move in shifting (and often attractive or colourful) patterns. intransitive
Etymology
The noun is derived from Ancient Greek καλός (kalós, “beautiful, lovely”) + εἶδος (eîdos, “form, image, shape”) + English -scope (suffix denoting an instrument used for examination or viewing), coined by the British scientist David Brewster (1781–1868) in his 1817 patent for the invention: see the quotation. The verb is derived from the noun.
The noun is derived from Ancient Greek καλός (kalós, “beautiful, lovely”) + εἶδος (eîdos, “form, image, shape”) + English -scope (suffix denoting an instrument used for examination or viewing), coined by the British scientist David Brewster (1781–1868) in his 1817 patent for the invention: see the quotation. The verb is derived from the noun.
See also for "kaleidoscope"
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