scope

/skoʊp/

/skəʊp/

Business people like to use the word scope because it specifies the extent of their responsibilities. Once you know the scope of a project, you can decide if you're qualified and how much time it will take to do it.

If your boss gives you a new task and you don't want to do it, tell him or her it's not within the scope of your duties. A scope is also a device used to see something in the distance. You'll find one on shotguns, submarines, radars and the like. You can use scope as a verb meaning "to look out or around." When you and your friends go out, you probably scope out a few places to see where the action is.

Definitions of scope

1. noun

   the state of the environment in which a situation exists
   synonyms: background, setting

   types:

   canvas

   the setting for a narrative or fictional or dramatic account

   show window, showcase

   a setting in which something can be displayed to best effect

   type of:

   environment

   the totality of surrounding conditions
2. noun

   an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
   “within the scope of an investigation”

   synonyms: ambit, compass, orbit, range, reach

   types:

   approximate range, ballpark

   near to the scope or range of something

   confines, pale

   a bounded scope

   contrast

   the range of optical density and tone on a photographic negative or print (or the extent to which adjacent areas on a television screen differ in brightness)

   internationalism, internationality

   quality of being international in scope

   latitude

   scope for freedom of e.g. action or thought; freedom from restriction

   horizon, purview, view

   the range of interest or activity that can be anticipated

   expanse, sweep

   a wide scope

   gamut

   a complete extent or range: "a face that expressed a gamut of emotions"

   spectrum

   a broad range of related objects, values, qualities, ideas, or activities

   palette, pallet

   the range of colour characteristic of a particular artist or painting or school of art

   type of:

   extent

   the distance or area or volume over which something extends
3. noun

   a magnifier of images of distant objects
   synonyms: telescope

   types:

   astronomical telescope

   any telescope designed to collect and record electromagnetic radiation from cosmic sources

   collimator

   a small telescope attached to a large telescope to use in setting the line of the larger one

   equatorial

   a telescope whose mounting has only two axes of motion, one parallel to the Earth's axis and the other one at right angles to it

   solar telescope

   a telescope designed to make observations of the sun

   transit instrument

   a telescope mounted on an axis running east and west and used to time the transit of a celestial body across the meridian

   optical telescope

   an astronomical telescope designed to collect and record light from cosmic sources

   radio reflector, radio telescope

   astronomical telescope that picks up electromagnetic radiations in the radio-frequency range from extraterrestrial sources

   type of:

   magnifier

   a scientific instrument that magnifies an image
4. noun

   electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities
   synonyms: CRO, cathode-ray oscilloscope, oscilloscope

   type of:

   electronic equipment, electronics

   equipment that involves the controlled conduction of electrons (especially in a gas or vacuum or semiconductor)