-scope-

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

scope /skoʊp/   n., v., scoped, scop•ing. 
n. 

1. extent, limit or range of view, outlook, etc.:
   [uncountable] a question beyond the scope of this paper.
2. opportunity for activity:
   [uncountable] to give one's fancy full scope.
3. Optics [countable] a short form of microscope, radarscope, etc.

v. 

4. Slang Terms to look at or over* examine:[~ + out + object]
   to scope out the situation.
   [~ + object + out]
   Scope this guy out!

-scope-, root. 

1. -scope- comes from Greek, where it has the meaning "see.'' This meaning is found in such words as: fluoroscope, gyroscope, horoscope, microscope, microscopic, periscope, radioscopy, spectroscope, stethoscope, telescope, telescopic.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

scope  (skōp), n., v., scoped, scop•ing. 
n. 

1. extent or range of view, outlook, application, operation, effectiveness, etc.:
   an investigation of wide scope.
2. space for movement or activity;
   opportunity for operation:
   to give one's fancy full scope.
3. extent in space;
   a tract or area.
4. length:
   a scope of cable.
5. aim or purpose.
6. Linguistics, Philosophy the range of words or elements of an expression over which a modifier or operator has control:
   In "old men and women,'' "old'' may either take "men and women'' or just "men'' in its scope.
7. Optics (used as a short form of microscope, oscilloscope, periscope, radarscope, riflescope, telescopic sight, etc.)

v.t. 

8. Slang Terms to look at, read, or investigate, as in order to evaluate or appreciate.
9. Slang Terms scope out:
   • to look at or over;
     examine;
     check out:
     a rock musician scoping out the audience before going on stage.
   • to master;
     figure out:
     By the time we'd scoped out the problem, it was too late.

• Greek skopós aim, mark to shoot at; akin to skopeîn to look at (see -scope)
• Italian scopo
• 1525–35

scope′less, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. See range. 
• 2. margin, room, liberty.

-scope, 

1. Optics a combining form meaning "instrument for viewing,'' used in the formation of compound words:
   telescope.
   Cf. -scopy. 

• Greek -skopion, -skopeion, equivalent. to skop(eîn) to look at (akin to sképtesthai to look, view carefully; compare skeptic) + -ion, -eion noun, nominal suffix
• Neo-Latin -scopium