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   Scope

   /skōp/

   

   noun

   • 1. the extent of the area or subject matter that something deals with or to which it is relevant: "we widened the scope of our investigation" Similar extentrangebreadthwidthreachsweeppurviewspanstretchspreadhorizonareaspherefieldrealmcompassorbitambitterms of referencefield of referencejurisdictionremitconfinelimitgamutcompetence
   • 2. the opportunity or possibility to do or deal with something: "the scope for major change is always limited by political realities" Similar opportunityfreedomlatitudeleewaycapacitylibertyroomroom to maneuverelbow roomplaypossibilitychanceinformal:wriggle roomwiggle room
   • ▪ a purpose, end, or intention: archaic "Plato maintains religion to be the chief aim and scope of human life"
   • 3. a telescope, microscope, or other device having a name ending in -scope: informal "infrared night scopes"
   • 4. the length of cable extended when a ship rides at anchor.
   • 5. the range of the effect of an operator such as a quantifier or conjunction.

   verb

   • 1. assess or investigate (something): "they'd scoped out their market"
   • ▪ set the scope of (a projected undertaking): "it is important that a project is scoped correctly to ensure the budget can be accurately defined"
   • 2. look at carefully; scan: informal North American "they watched him scoping the room, looking for Michael"

   Word Origin mid 16th century (in the sense ‘target for shooting at’): from Italian scopo ‘aim’, from Greek skopos ‘target’, from skeptesthai ‘look out’. scope (sense 3 of the noun) is derived from -scope.

   Scrabble Points: 9

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