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bioscope

bioscope

9.9
An early machine that shows moving pictures on a screen
  • noun
  • /ˈbaɪəˌskoʊp/
  • Archaic
translation icon : bioscopio
  • Early cinema audiences were fascinated by the images projected by the bioscope.

Examples

  • The bioscope was a marvel of technology in its time.

  • At the exhibition, a restored bioscope was used to show silent films from the 1900s.

  • The museum's collection includes a rare 19th-century bioscope.

  • Many early films were shown using a bioscope.

  • In the late 1800s, towns often gathered at a local hall to watch films projected on a bioscope.

  • The bioscope was a popular attraction at the fair, showcasing thrilling short films to eager audiences.

  • During the early 20th century, a bioscope was used to bring moving pictures to life for those who had never seen a film before.

Synonyms

movie projector
vsbioscope
  • US
2 2.7

A machine that shows films on a screen for groups of people

is an early historical projector rather than the general modern machine
magic lantern
vsbioscope
  • Archaic
1 8.7

An early projector that uses glass slides and a lamp to show images on a wall

is for projecting moving film images rather than static slides
vitascope
vsbioscope
  • Archaic
1 9.9

An early machine that shows moving pictures to people

is the same early showing device for moving pictures
cinematograph
vsbioscope
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A machine long ago used to record and show moving pictures

is mainly a projecting device not focused on recording
biograph
vsbioscope
  • Archaic
9.9

An early projector that shows moving pictures

is a similar early model used in the same era
zoopraxiscope
vsbioscope
  • Archaic
9.9

An early machine that projects pictures to show movement

is a projector that displays recorded film rather than image sequences
cine projector
vsbioscope
  • Specialized
4.6

A machine that shows moving pictures from film on a screen

is an earlier device used in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries

Surface Forms

bioscope singular
bioscopes plural

Morphology

bioscope = scope (opaque) = bio + scope

Although the parts are historically meaningful, the term refers to an early projector through a specialized extension that is not transparent to most learners.

Etymology

Bioscope comes from the Greek parts bio- 'life' and -scope 'to look'. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries this name was used for the early projectors that showed moving, life-like pictures, so a bioscope was a machine for viewing 'life' on a screen.