An instrument for resolving light from any luminous body into its spectrum, and for the analysis of the spectrum so formed. It consists of a prism that refracts the light or a grating for diffraction of the light, an arrangement for rendering the rays parallel, and a telescope that magnifies the spectrum. [spectro- + G. skopeo, to view]
- direct vision s. a s. consisting of a single tube containing a series of prisms; one end of the tube is placed in as close contact as possible with the substance to be examined while the observer's eye is at the opposite end; it can be used to make a spectroscopic examination of the blood in vivo, as in the ear lobe or web of the thumb.
* * *
spec·tro·scope 'spek-trə-.skōp n an instrument for forming and examining optical spectra
spec·tro·scop·ic .spek-trə-'skäp-ik adj
spec·tro·scop·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adv
* * *
n.
an instrument used to split up light or other radiation into components of different wavelengths. The simplest spectroscope uses a prism, which splits white light into the rainbow colours of the visible spectrum.
* * *
spec·tro·scope (spekґtrə-skōp) [spectro- + -scope] an instrument for developing and analyzing spectra.Medical dictionary. 2011.