kaleidoscope

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

kaleidoscope
    n 1: a complex pattern of constantly changing colors and shapes
    2: an optical toy in a tube; it produces symmetrical patterns as
       bits of colored glass are reflected by mirrors

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Kaleidoscope \Ka*lei"do*scope\, n. [Gr. ? beautiful + e'i^dos
   form + -scope.]
   An instrument invented by Sir David Brewster, which contains
   loose fragments of colored glass, etc., and reflecting
   surfaces so arranged that changes of position exhibit its
   contents in an endless variety of beautiful colors and
   symmetrical forms. It has been much employed in arts of
   design.
   [1913 Webster]

         Shifting like the fragments of colored glass in the
         kaleidoscope.                            --G. W. Cable.
   Kaleidoscopic

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

Kaleidoscope

   <language> An {object-oriented} language which mixes
   {imperative programming} and {constraint}-oriented features.
   Kaleidoscope was written by Freeman-Benson of the {University
   of Washington}, {Universite de Nantes}, 1989; {University of
   Victoria}, 1992.  It is similar to {Siri} and vaguely related
   to {Prose}.

   Versions: Kaleidoscope '90 and Kaleidoscope '91.

   ["Kaleidoscope: Mixing Objects, Constraints and Imperative
   Programming", B.N. Freeman-Benson, SIGPLAN Notices
   25(10):77-88 (OOPSLA/ECOOP '90) (Oct 1990)].

   ["Constraint Imperative Programming", B.N. Freeman-Benson,
   Ph.D. Thesis, TR 91-07-02, U Wash (1991)].

   ["Constraint Imperative Programming", Freeman-Benson et al,
   IEEE Conf on Comp Lang, Apr 1992].

   (1994-11-09)