kaleidoscope
noun /kəˈlaɪdəskəʊp/
/kəˈlaɪdəskəʊp/
- [countable] a toy consisting of a tube that you look through with loose pieces of coloured glass and mirrors at the end. When the tube is turned, the pieces of glass move and form different patterns
- [singular] a situation, pattern, etc. containing a lot of different parts that are always changing
Word Originearly 19th cent.: from Greek kalos ‘beautiful’ + eidos ‘form’ + -scope (see scope).