noun

1. the extent of the mind's grasp; range of perception or understanding a problem beyond his scope
2. the range or extent of action, inquiry, etc., or of an activity, concept, etc. the scope of a book
3. room or opportunity for freedom of action or thought; free play
4. telescope, microscope, radarscope, etc.
5. Naut. length, extent, or sweep, as of a cable
6. Now Rare end; purpose

Etymology: It scopo < L scopus, goal, target < Gr skopos, a mark, spy, watcher < base of skopein, to see, altered by metathesis < IE base *spe-, to peer, look carefully > spy, L specere, to see

transitive verb scoped, scoping scop′·ing