Source : Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)
Microscope \Mi"cro*scope\, n. [Micro- + -scope.]
An optical instrument, consisting of a lens, or combination
of lenses, for making an enlarged image of an object which is
too minute to be viewed by the naked eye.
{Compound microscope}, an instrument consisting of a
combination of lenses such that the image formed by the
lens or set of lenses nearest the object (called the
objective) is magnified by another lens called the ocular
or eyepiece.
{Oxyhydrogen microscope}, and {Solar microscope}. See under
{Oxyhydrogen}, and {Solar}.
{Simple, or Single}, {microscope}, a single convex lens used
to magnify objects placed in its focus.
Solar \So"lar\, a. [L. solaris, fr. sol the sun; akin to As.
s[=o]l, Icel. s[=o]l, Goth. sauil, Lith. saule, W. haul,.
sul, Skr. svar, perhaps to E. sun:F. solaire. Cf. {Parasol}.
{Sun}.]
1. Of or pertaining to the sun; proceeding from the sun; as,
the solar system; solar light; solar rays; solar
influence. See {Solar system}, below.
2. (Astrol.) Born under the predominant influence of the sun.
[Obs.]
And proud beside, as solar people are. --Dryden.
3. Measured by the progress or revolution of the sun in the
ecliptic; as, the solar year.
4. Produced by the action of the sun, or peculiarly affected
by its influence.
They denominate some herbs solar, and some lunar.
--Bacon.
{Solar cycle}. See under {Cycle}.
{Solar day}. See {Day}, 2.
{Solar engine}, an engine in which the energy of solar heat
is used to produce motion, as in evaporating water for a
steam engine, or expanding air for an air engine.
{Solar flowers} (Bot.), flowers which open and shut daily at
certain hours.
{Solar lamp}, an argand lamp.
{Solar microscope}, a microscope consisting essentially,
first, of a mirror for reflecting a beam of sunlight
through the tube, which sometimes is fixed in a window
shutter; secondly, of a condenser, or large lens, for
converging the beam upon the object; and, thirdly, of a
small lens, or magnifier, for throwing an enlarged image
of the object at its focus upon a screen in a dark room or
in a darkened box.