<p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>an optical instrument for making distant objects appear larger and therefore nearer</li><li>one of the two principal forms refracting telescope, or refractor consists essentially of an objective lens set into one end of a tube and an adjustable eyepiece or combination of lenses set into the other end of a tube that slides into the first and through which the enlarged object is viewed directly</li><li>the other form reflecting telescope, or reflector has a concave mirror that gathers light from the object and focuses it into an adjustable eyepiece or combination of lenses through which the reflection of the object is enlarged and viewed</li><li>the constellation Telescopium</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective</strong></p><ul><li>consisting of parts that fit and slide one within another</li></ul><p><strong>Verb</strong></p><ul><li>to force together, one into another, or force into something else, in the manner of the sliding tubes of a jointed telescope</li><li>to shorten or condense; compress</li><li>to slide together, or into something else, in the manner of the tubes of a jointed telescope</li><li>to be driven one into another, as railroad cars in a collision</li><li>to be or become shortened or condensed</li></ul>