télescoper

Senses

1. 1.

   to telescope, to overlap

   to slide or fit parts into each other like the sections of a telescope

2. 2.

   to collide, to crash

   to crash into each other (of vehicles or objects)

3. 3.

   to overlap, to compress

   to reduce duration or compress in time

Examples

• "Les voitures se sont télescopées sur l'autoroute."

  The cars crashed into each other on the motorway.

• "Les sections du tube se télescopent parfaitement."

  The tube sections telescope together perfectly.

• "Les deux événements se sont télescopés dans le temps."

  The two events overlapped in time.

Usage

Télescoper can be used transitively (someone telescopes something) or reflexively (things telescope together). Common in traffic/accident contexts and technical writing. Pronominal form often preferred in modern usage.