Scope

Welcome to Voice of America’s News Words

This story is about U.S. airstrikes in Iraq.

Listen for this word.

Scope.

The U.S. military has conducted more than 150 airstrikes in support of forces fighting against Islamic State militants in Iraq.

But the scope has been limited.

The military says President Obama has not instructed them to target Islamic State leaders, as it has targeted leaders of al-Qaida and al-Shabab.

Scope means the area that is included in something.

The airstrikes area, or scope, in our story was not a big one.

There is also another meaning.

To scope something out means to find out about something.

Now, when you hear the word scope, you will know what it means!