scope

1. extent or range of view, outlook, application, operation, effectiveness, etc.:

   an investigation of wide scope.

2. space for movement or activity; opportunity for operation:

   to give one's fancy full scope.

   Synonyms: liberty, room, sweep, reach, range, extent, breadth, ambit

3. extent in space; a tract or area.
4. length:

   a scope of cable.

5. aim or purpose.
6. Linguistics, Logic. the range of words or elements of an expression over which a modifier or operator has control:

   In “old men and women,” “old” may either take “men and women” or just “men” in its scope.

7. (used as a short form of microscope, oscilloscope, periscope, radarscope, riflescope, telescopic sight, etc.)

1. Slang. to look at, read, or investigate, as in order to evaluate or appreciate.

verb phrase

1. Slang.
   1. to look at or over; examine; check out:

      a rock musician scoping out the audience before going on stage.

   2. to master; figure out:

      By the time we'd scoped out the problem, it was too late.

1. a combining form meaning “instrument for viewing,” used in the formation of compound words:

   telescope.