noun Optics.
an optical device for producing and observing a spectrum of light or radiation from any source, consisting essentially of a slit through which the radiation passes, a collimating lens, and an Amici prism.

1860–65; spectro- + -scope

spectroscopic [spek-truh-skop-ik] , spectroscopical, adjective
spectroscopically, adverb
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World English Dictionary
spectroscope (ˈspɛktrəˌskəʊp)
See also spectrometer any of a number of instruments for dispersing electromagnetic radiation and thus forming or recording a spectrum
[C19: from spectro- + -scope; from French, or on the model of German Spektroskop]

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Medical Dictionary

spectroscope spec·tro·scope (spěk'trə-skōp')
An instrument for producing and observing spectra.

spec'tro·scop'ic (-skŏp'ĭk) or spec'tro·scop'i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.
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Science Dictionary
spectroscope   (spěk'trə-skōp')  Pronunciation Key 
Any of various instruments used to analyze the component parts of a sample by separating its parts into a spectrum. ◇ In a light spectroscope, light is focused into a thin beam of parallel rays by a lens, and then passed through a prism or diffraction grating that separates the light into a frequency spectrum. The intensity of light at different frequencies in the spectrum can be analyzed to determine certain properties of the source of the light, such as its chemical composition or how quickly it is moving. ◇ In a mass spectroscope, sample ions are beamed through an electric or magnetic field that deflects the ions; the amount of deflection depends on the ratio of their mass to their electric charge. The ion beam is thus split into separate bands; the collection of bands is called the mass spectrum of the sample, and can be analyzed to determine the distribution of ions in the sample. Spectroscopes are also called spectrographs.
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Example sentences
They've also added a clinical-grade cellphone spectroscope that might be able to measure some vital signs.
Since the device does not emit any signal, the spectroscope will allow for covert inspection of suspicious operations.
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