What does kaleidoscope mean?

Definitions for kaleidoscope
kəˈlaɪ dəˌskoʊpkalei·do·scope

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word kaleidoscope.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. kaleidoscopenoun

    a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes

  2. kaleidoscopenoun

    an optical toy in a tube; it produces symmetrical patterns as bits of colored glass are reflected by mirrors

Wiktionary

  1. kaleidoscopenoun

    A tube of mirrors containing loose coloured beads etc. that is rotated to produce a succession of symmetrical designs

  2. kaleidoscopenoun

    A constantly changing set of colours, or other things

Wikipedia

  1. Kaleidoscope

    A kaleidoscope () is an optical instrument with two or more reflecting surfaces (or mirrors) tilted to each other at an angle, so that one or more (parts of) objects on one end of these mirrors are shown as a regular symmetrical pattern when viewed from the other end, due to repeated reflection. These reflectors are usually enclosed in a tube, often containing on one end a cell with loose, colored pieces of glass or other transparent (and/or opaque) materials to be reflected into the viewed pattern. Rotation of the cell causes motion of the materials, resulting in an ever-changing view being presented.

ChatGPT

  1. kaleidoscope

    A kaleidoscope is an optical instrument, typically a cylinder with mirrors, containing loose fragments of colored glass or other material, which when rotated generates a succession of symmetrical, multicolored patterns due to repeated reflection. It can also figuratively refer to a constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements or events.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Kaleidoscopenoun

    an instrument invented by Sir David Brewster, which contains loose fragments of colored glass, etc., and reflecting surfaces so arranged that changes of position exhibit its contents in an endless variety of beautiful colors and symmetrical forms. It has been much employed in arts of design

  2. Etymology: [Gr. beautiful + e'i^dos form + -scope.]

Wikidata

  1. Kaleidoscope

    A kaleidoscope is a cylinder with mirrors containing loose, colored objects such as beads or pebbles and bits of glass. As the viewer looks into one end, light entering the other creates a colorful pattern, due to the reflection off of the mirrors. Coined in 1817 by Scottish inventor Sir David Brewster, "kaleidoscope" is derived from the Ancient Greek καλός, "beautiful, beauty", εἶδος, "that which is seen: form, shape" and σκοπέω, "to look to, to examine", hence "observation of beautiful forms."

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Kaleidoscope

    ka-lī′do-skōp, n. an optical toy in which we see an endless variety of beautiful colours and forms.—adj. Kaleidoscop′ic. [Gr. kalos, beautiful, eidos, form, skopein, to see.]

The Nuttall Encyclopedia

  1. Kaleidoscope

    an optical instrument, invented by Sir David Brewster in 1817, consisting of a cylinder with two mirrors set lengthwise inside, two plates of glass with bits of coloured glass loose between at one end and an eye-hole at the other, presents varying patterns on rotation.

Suggested Resources

  1. kaleidoscope

    Song lyrics by kaleidoscope -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by kaleidoscope on the Lyrics.com website.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of kaleidoscope in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of kaleidoscope in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of kaleidoscope in a Sentence

  1. Fred Fleitz:

    The Saudis see a very dangerous situation -- there are the Houthi rebels, who are a Shiite group which may be becoming an Iranian proxy, Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, the most dangerous Al Qaeda franchise ... there is a question over whether they can get together an Arab coalition willing to send in ground troops, we’ve seen a slow motion civil war there for many years and now the pace is accelerating … Yemen is really dissolving into a kaleidoscope of conflicting factions.

  2. Rooma Mehra:

    Nature’s serenity is there for us to see, hear and feel in the majesty of the mountains, the vastness of the sea, the whisper of the whistling wind, the incredible scent-of-a-quenched-happy-earth after rain.. it makes my heart glow with a happiness unparalleled by any other joy… sends my tired senses into a meditative trance.. the earth is a kaleidoscope of dreamscapes.

  3. Jean Houston:

    At the height of laughter, the universe is flung into a kaleidoscope of new possibilities.

  4. Henry Ward Beecher:

    Our days are a kaleidoscope. Every instant a change takes place in the contents. New harmonies, new contrasts, new combinations of every sort. Nothing ever happens twice alike. The most familiar people stand each moment in some new relation to each other, to their work, to surrounding objects. The most tranquil house, with the most serene inhabitants, living upon the utmost regularity of system, is yet exemplifying infinite diversities.

  5. Sharon Salzberg:

    Life is like and ever-shifting kaleidoscope - a slight change, and all patterns alter.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for kaleidoscope

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"kaleidoscope." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/kaleidoscope>.

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