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kaleidoscope

kaleidoscope [ kə ldəskōp ] (plural kaleidoscopes)


noun 
Definition:
 
1. optical toy: an optical toy consisting of a cylinder with mirrors and coloured shapes inside that create shifting symmetrical patterns when the end is rotated

2. complex scene or pattern: a complex, colourful, and shifting pattern or scene

3. complex set of events: a complex set of events or circumstances

[Early 19th century. < Greek kalos 'beautiful' + eidos 'form']

kaleidoscopic [ kə ldə skóppik ] adjective
kaleidoscopically adverb
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