an optical instrument for forming magnified images of small objects, consisting of an objective lens with a very short focal length and an eyepiece with a longer focal length, both lenses mounted in the same tube.
Origin
1865-70
Examples from the web for compound microscope
All students should be able to use a compound microscope.
The oocysts are discernable only by use of a compound microscope.
These spinules must be viewed using a compound microscope.
British Dictionary definitions for compound microscope
compound microscope
noun
1.
an instrument for magnifying small objects, consisting of a lens of short focal length for forming an image that is further magnified by a second lens of longer focal length Compare simple microscope
compound microscope in Medicine
compound microscopen. A microscope consisting of an objective and an eyepiece at opposite ends of an adjustable tube.