Binoculars

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈbɪnˌɒk.jÊŠ.lÉ™(ɹ)z/, /ˈbÉ™nˌɒk.jÉ™.lÉ™(ɹ)z/

Origin

Abbreviation of "binocular glass".

Full definition of binoculars

Noun

1. A hand-held device consisting of a series of lenses and prisms, used to magnify objects so that they can be better seen from a distance, and looked at through both eyes.
• 1956, w, Crime out of Mind Chapter 14, He gazed around until on the lid of a spinet he spotted a promising collection of bottles, gin, whiskey, vermouth and sherry, mixed with violin bows, a flute, a toppling pile of books, six volumes of Grove's Dictionary mingled with paperback thrillers, a guitar without any strings, a pair of binoculars, a meerschaum pipe and a jar half-full of wasps and apricot jam.

Usage notes

A single device is called a pair of binoculars, and the plural "pairs of binoculars" is used for more than one device.

Synonyms

• binocs
• field glasses
• spyglass