Binoculars: Definition, Usage & Key Examples

Meaning 1：optical device for viewing distant objects (binoculars)

binoculars 🔊

/bɪˈnɒkjʊləz/

A tool with two tubes and lenses, held up to both eyes to see distant things clearly, like birds or scenery.

Binoculars in use: a person viewing distant mountains through black binoculars on a sunny day.

optical device for viewing distant objects 🔊

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/ˈɒptɪkəl dɪˈvaɪs fɔː ˈvjuːɪŋ ˈdɪstənt ˈɒbdʒɪkts/

A hand-held optical instrument consisting of two small telescopes mounted side by side, designed for use with both eyes simultaneously to magnify distant objects.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Latin: 'bini' (two) + 'oculus' (eye) → 'binoculus' (having two eyes).

💡 Mnemonic

Bi-noculars: 'Bi' means two, like two eyes. You need two eyes to look through its two tubes.

📖 Example

We took our binoculars to the park and spent the morning watching colorful birds in the trees. 🔊 We brought our binoculars to the park and spent the morning observing colorful birds in the trees.

🔗 Collocations

a pair of binoculars – the standard way to refer to one set of binoculars

birdwatching binoculars – binoculars specifically designed for observing birds, often with specific features like close focus

focus the binoculars – to adjust the lenses to make a distant object appear clear and sharp

🔄 Synonyms

field glasses (n.) – Another term for binoculars, often used interchangeably.

opera glasses (n.) – A small, low-power type of binoculars traditionally used in theaters.

🚫 Antonyms

microscope (n.) – An optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, as opposed to distant ones.

🌱 Derivatives

binocular (adj.) – Involving, relating to, or intended for the use of both eyes.

📖 Cultural Story

Derived from Latin 'bini' (twofold) and 'oculus' (eye). The design mimics the parallax vision of two eyes for depth perception, revolutionizing birdwatching, military reconnaissance, and stargazing since the 17th century.