scope Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"
    ambit; reach; orbit; range; compass.
    • a piano has a greater range than the human voice
    • the ambit of municipal legislation
    • within the compass of this article
    • within the scope of an investigation
    • outside the reach of the law
    • in the political orbit of a world power
  2. noun the state of the environment in which a situation exists
    setting; background.
    • you can't do that in a university setting
  3. noun a magnifier of images of distant objects
    telescope.
  4. noun electronic equipment that provides visual images of varying electrical quantities
    cathode-ray oscilloscope; CRO; oscilloscope.

WordNet

Scope noun
Etymology
It. scopo, L. scopos a mark, aim, Gr. skopo`s, a watcher, mark, aim; akin to , to view, and perch. to E. spy. Cf. Skeptic, Bishop.
Definitions
  1. That at which one aims; the thing or end to which the mind directs its view; that which is purposed to be reached or accomplished; hence, ultimate design, aim, or purpose; intention; drift; object. "Shooting wide, do miss the marked scope." Spenser.
    Your scope is as mine own, So to enforce or quality the laws As to your soul seems good. Shak.
    The scope of all their pleading against man's authority, is to overthrow such laws and constitutions in the church. Hooker.
  2. Room or opportunity for free outlook or aim; space for action; amplitude of opportunity; free course or vent; liberty; range of view; intent, or action.
    Give him line and scope. Shak.
    In the fate and fortunes of the human race, scope is given to the operation of laws which man must always fail to discern the reasons of. I. Taylor.
    Excuse me if I have given too much scope to the reflections which have arisen in my mind. Burke.
    An intellectual cultivation of no moderate depth or scope. Hawthorne.
  3. Extended area. Obs. "The scopes of land granted to the first adventurers." Sir J. Davies.
  4. Length; extent; sweep; as, scope of cable. Scope, v. t. To look at for the purpose of evaluation; usu with out; as, to scope out the area as a camping site.

Webster 1913