kaleidoscope

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ka·lei·do·scope

(kə-lī′də-skōp′)
n.
1. A tube-shaped optical instrument that is rotated to produce a succession of symmetrical designs by means of mirrors reflecting the constantly changing patterns made by small objects, such as beads or bits of colored glass, at one end of the tube.
2. A constantly changing set of colors.
3. A series of changing phases or events: a kaleidoscope of illusions.

[Greek kalos, beautiful + eidos, form; see weid- in Indo-European roots + -scope.]

ka·lei′do·scop′ic (-skŏp′ĭk), ka·lei′do·scop′i·cal adj.
ka·lei′do·scop′i·cal·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

kaleidoscope

(kəˈlaɪdəˌskəʊp)
n
1. (General Physics) an optical toy for producing symmetrical patterns by multiple reflections in inclined mirrors enclosed in a tube. Loose pieces of coloured glass, paper, etc, are placed between transparent plates at the far end of the tube, which is rotated to change the pattern
2. any complex pattern of frequently changing shapes and colours
3. a complicated set of circumstances
[C19: from Greek kalos beautiful + eidos form + -scope]
kaleidoscopic adj
kaˌleidoˈscopically adv
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ka•lei•do•scope

(kəˈlaɪ dəˌskoʊp)

n.
1. a tubular optical instrument in which loose bits of colored glass at the end of the tube are reflected in mirrors so as to display ever-changing symmetrical patterns as the tube is rotated.
2. a continually shifting pattern, scene, or the like.
[1817; < Greek kal(ós) beautiful + eîdo(s) shape (compare eidetic) + -scope]
ka•lei`do•scop′ic (-ˈskɒp ɪk) adj.
ka•lei`do•scop′i•cal•ly, adv.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

kaleidoscope

an optical device composed of bits of colored glass and several reflecting surfaces that presents to the viewer symmetrical patterns when shaken or rotated. — kaleidoscopic, adj.
See also: Instruments
-Ologies & -Isms. Copyright 2008 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Noun 1. kaleidoscope - a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes
pattern, form, shape - a perceptual structure; "the composition presents problems for students of musical form"; "a visual pattern must include not only objects but the spaces between them"
2. [画像:kaleidoscope - an optical toy in a tube]kaleidoscope - an optical toy in a tube; it produces symmetrical patterns as bits of colored glass are reflected by mirrors
plaything, toy - an artifact designed to be played with
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
kalejdoskop
kaléidoscope caléidoscope
kaleidoszkóp
kviksjá
kaleidoskopaskaleidoskopiškas
kaleidoskops
kaleidoskop
çiçek dürbünükaleydoskop

kaleidoscope

[kəˈlaɪdəskəʊp] Ncalidoscopio m, caleidoscopio m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

kaleidoscope

[kəˈlaɪdəskəʊp] nkaléidoscope m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

kaleidoscope

nKaleidoskop nt; a kaleidoscope of emotionein Wechselspiel ntder Gefühle
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

kaleidoscope

[kəˈlaɪdəˌskəʊp] ncaleidoscopio
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

kaleidoscope

(kəˈlaidəskəup) noun
a tube-shaped toy in which loose coloured pieces of glass etc reflected in two mirrors form changing patterns. kaleidoskoop مِشْكال: جِهاز مَرايا وقِطَع زُجاجيَّه ملوَّنَه калейдоскоп caleidoscópio kaleidoskop das Kaleidoskop kalejdoskop καλειδοσκόπιο calidoscopio kaleidoskoop زیبانما؛ نوعی شهرفرنگ kaleidoskooppi kaléidoscope קָלֵיידוֹסקוֹפ बहुमूर्तीदर्शी kaleidoskop kaleidoszkóp kaleidoskop kviksjá caleidoscopio 万華鏡 만화경(萬華鏡) kaleidoskopas kaleidoskops kaleidoskop caleidoscoop kaleidoskop kalejdoskop ګردشكله،تغير منونكي،ليدځاي caleidoscópio caleidoscop калейдоскоп kaleidoskop kalejdoskop kaleidoskop kalejdoskop กล้องส่องภาพซึ่งเกิดจากการสะท้อนภาพของแผ่นกระจกหลายแผ่นประกอบกันในกล้อง kaleydoskop, çiçek dürbünü 萬花筒 калейдоскоп سیر بین kính vạn hoa 万花筒
kaˌleidoˈscopic (-ˈsko-) adjective
with many changing colours, sights, impressions etc. kaleidoskopies مِشْكالي калейдоскопичен caleidoscópico kaleidoskopický kaleidoskopisch kalejdoskopisk πολυποίκιλος calidoscópico vaheldusrikas متلون kaleidoskooppinen kaléidoscopique ססגוני बहुदर्शी, परिवर्तनशील kaleidoskopski tarkabarka secara kaleidoskopis síbreytilegur caleidoscopico 変化に富んだ 변화무쌍한 kaleidoskopiškas kaleidoskopisks silih berganti caleidoscopisch kaleidoskopisk urozmaicony, zmieniający się jak w kalejdoskopie رنګين،انځوريز caleidoscópico ca­lei­doscopic калейдоскопический kaleidoskopický kalejdoskopski kaleidoskopski kalejdoskopisk, mångskiftande ด้วยสีสัน ภาพ ความพึงพอใจที่หลากหลาย sık sık değişen 千變萬化的 калейдоскопічний بدلتے منظر یا رنگوں سے متعلق có nhiều màu sắc 千变万化的
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
References in classic literature ?
The childish and savage taste of men and women for new patterns keeps how many shaking and squinting through kaleidoscopes that they may discover the particular figure which this generation requires today.
It was marvellous, a feast for the eyes, this complication of coloured tints, a perfect kaleidoscope of green, yellow, orange, violet, indigo, and blue; in one word, the whole palette of an enthusiastic colourist!
As for those antique floor-cloth & still occasionally seen in the dwellings of the rabble - cloths of huge, sprawling, and radiating devises, stripe-interspersed, and glorious with all hues, among which no ground is intelligible-these are but the wicked invention of a race of time-servers and money-lovers - children of Baal and worshippers of Mammon - Benthams, who, to spare thought and economize fancy, first cruelly invented the Kaleidoscope, and then established joint-stock companies to twirl it by steam.
But you couldn't make a man like Winsett see that; and that was why the New York of literary clubs and exotic restaurants, though a first shake made it seem more of a kaleidoscope, turned out, in the end, to be a smaller box, with a more monotonous pattern, than the assembled atoms of Fifth Avenue.
A man may be very sober--or at least firmly set upon his legs on that neutral ground which lies between the confines of perfect sobriety and slight tipsiness--and yet feel a strong tendency to mingle up present circumstances with others which have no manner of connection with them; to confound all consideration of persons, things, times, and places; and to jumble his disjointed thoughts together in a kind of mental kaleidoscope, producing combinations as unexpected as they are transitory.
Let the reader imagine all these grotesque figures of the Pont Neuf, those nightmares petrified beneath the hand of Germain Pilon, assuming life and breath, and coming in turn to stare you in the face with burning eyes; all the masks of the Carnival of Venice passing in succession before your glass,--in a word, a human kaleidoscope.
A change of ideas presented themselves to his brain, like a new design on the kaleidoscope. Enervated, prostrate, and breathless, he became unconscious of outward objects; he seemed to be entering that vague delirium preceding death.
But he swiftly dismissed the kaleidoscope of memory, oppressed by the urgent need of the present.
And her face was a kaleidoscope. At the first, tense and fearful, it was like that of a Christian martyr meeting the lions, or of a felon falling through the trap.
For three hours we strolled about together, watching the ever-changing kaleidoscope of life as it ebbs and flows through Fleet Street and the Strand.

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