Telescopic describes something that can extend and collapse like a telescope, or something so distant it can only be seen through a telescope.

A telescopic ladder pulls out to reach high places, then collapses back down for easy storage. Telescopic fishing rods extend when you need them long and retract when you're done. Telescopic poles on hiking backpacks adjust to different heights by sliding sections in and out, one inside another, like the tubes of a handheld telescope.

The word also describes objects so far away that you need a telescope to see them clearly. Astronomers study telescopic stars that appear as tiny pinpoints even through powerful instruments. When scientists discovered Neptune in 1846, they called it a telescopic planet because unlike Mars or Jupiter, you couldn't spot it just by looking up at the night sky.

The clever design of telescopic objects solves a practical problem: how do you make something long enough to be useful but compact enough to carry or store? Whether it's a car antenna, a pointer, or a closet organizer, telescopic items give you length when you need it and convenience when you don't.