kaleidoscope

ka·lei·do·scope

K k

Transcription

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
- [kuh-lahy-duh-skohp]
- /kəˈlaɪ dəˌskoʊp/
- /kəˈlaɪ.də.skəʊp/

- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- [kuh-lahy-duh-skohp]
- /kəˈlaɪ dəˌskoʊp/

Definitions of kaleidoscope word

noun kaleidoscope an optical instrument in which bits of glass, held loosely at the end of a rotating tube, are shown in continually changing symmetrical forms by reflection in two or more mirrors set at angles to each other. 1
noun kaleidoscope a continually changing pattern of shapes and colors. 1
noun kaleidoscope a continually shifting pattern, scene, or the like: The 1920s were a kaleidoscope of fads and fashions. 1
noun kaleidoscope A toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of colored glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns that are visible through an eyehole when the tube is rotated. 1
noun kaleidoscope toy: telescope showing coloured patterns 1
noun kaleidoscope changing pattern 1

See all 17 definitions of kaleidoscope

Information block about the term

Origin of kaleidoscope

First appearance:

before 1817

One of the 39% newest English words

1817; < Greek kal(ós) beautiful + eîdo(s) shape + -scope

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Kaleidoscope

noun

adjective

verb

adverb

pronoun

preposition

conjunction

determiner

exclamation

Full grammatical hierarchy of Kaleidoscope

kaleidoscope popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 63% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.

Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

kaleidoscope usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for kaleidoscope

noun kaleidoscope

phantasmagoria — a shifting series of phantasms, illusions, or deceptive appearances, as in a dream or as created by the imagination.
display — to show or exhibit; make visible: to display a sign.
mixture — a product of mixing.
medley — a mixture, especially of heterogeneous elements; hodgepodge; jumble.
series — a group or a number of related or similar things, events, etc., arranged or occurring in temporal, spatial, or other order or succession; sequence.

All 9 Synonyms of kaleidoscope

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