(1) An optical instrument providing for the use of both eyes simultaneously. (2) A pair of eyepieces or telescopes placed side by side so that both eyes can observe simultaneously. The term pair of binoculars is often used instead. Note that observing through a binocular does not necessarily give binocular vision. Microscopes are often provided with binocular eyepieces but only a single objective. Both eyes therefore look at the object from exactly the same viewpoint.