microscope
/ˈmʌɪkrəskəʊp
/noun
An optical instrument used for viewing very small objects, such as mineral samples or animal or plant cells, typically magnified several hundred times.The paper shows that positrons can see defects better than either optical or electron beam microscopes....
- In rapid succession the field ion microscope and the scanning tunnelling microscope soon joined these microscopes.
- A biopsy allows scientists to look at a sample of your cells under a microscope and carry out tests on the tissue.
Phrases
under the microscope
Origin
Mid 17th century: from modern Latin microscopium (see micro-, -scope).