Binoculars

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /bɪˈnɒk.jʊ.lə(ɹ)z/

Definitions

1. An optical instrument composed of two cylindrical tubes that enable enhanced vision of distant objects through magnification
2. A tool that consists of two lenses aligned in pairs, designed for the purpose of viewing far-off scenes more clearly
3. A pair of connected lenses allowing people to see faraway things more clearly by making them appear larger

Etymology: "Binoculars" is a shortened form of "binocular glass," a phrase built from the Latin "binoculus," meaning "two-eyed," which joins "bini" ("two each" or "pair") with "oculus" ("eye"). The adjective "binocular" describes the use of both eyes together, and the noun "binocular glass" was the instrument that let both eyes look through a pair of lenses at once. The clipped plural "binoculars" carries the sense of the instrument itself, so the word is a noun whose plural ending stuck even though the device is a single unit in ordinary speech. The meaning has stayed close to its origin: the thing still works by letting two eyes view the same distant scene, and the word still names that double-eyed looking.

Synonyms: field glasses, binocs