binoculars
/bəˈnɒkjələz/buh-NO-kyuh-lurz
/bəˈnɑkjəlɚz/buh-NAH-kyuh-lurz
Meaningfor two eyes
Common meaning: a two-lensed device for distant viewing
- bintwo at a time (Latin bini)
- oculthe eyeLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1255 · scan
- arsplural adjective-noun ending (-ar + -s)
‘two at a time (Latin bini)’ + ‘the eye’ → binoculars
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Built on Latin oculus ‘the eye’.
Did you know: our wording, based on Lewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), entry oculus, p. 1255 · dictionary scan; Skeat, Etymological Dictionary (1898), entry INOCULATE, p. 295 · dictionary scan
Roots
- oculus Latin “the eye”
Related words
Building blocks are an automatic split · open in app