MICRO Definition & Meaning

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micro

[ mahy-kroh ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

extremely small.
minute in scope or capability.
of or relating to microcomputers.
of or relating to microeconomics.

noun

plural micros.

anything extremely small in scope or capability.
a microcomputer.
microeconomics.

micro-

a combining form with the meanings “small” ( microcosm; microgamete ), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” ( microcassette; microlith ), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” ( microfossil; microorganism ), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities of a substance” ( microdissection; microscope ), “localized, restricted in scope or area” ( microburst; microhabitat ), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” ( microeconomics ), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” ( microfilm; microreader ), “one millionth” ( microgram ).

micro-

combining_form

small or minute
microspore
involving the use of a microscope
micrography
indicating a method or instrument for dealing with small quantities
micrometer
(in pathology) indicating abnormal smallness or underdevelopment Compare macro-
microcyte
microcephaly
denoting 10 ^–6 μ
microsecond

micro

/ ˈ��ɪ��əʊ /

adjective

very small

noun

short for microcomputer microlepidoptera microprocessor microwave oven

��–

A prefix that means: “small” (as in microorganism ) or “one millionth” (as in microsecond ).

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of micro¹

Independent use of micro-, or shortening of words with this initial element

Origin of micro²

< Greek: combining form representing ��ī��ó�� small

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51�Թ� History and Origins

Origin of micro¹

from Greek mikros small

Related 51�Թ�s

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51�Թ�s That Use micro-

What does micro- mean?

Micro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “small.” In units of measurement, micro- means “one millionth.” The form micro- is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.

Micro- comes from Greek ��ī��ó��, meaning “small.” The Latin equivalent of ��ī��ó�� is parvus, also meaning “small,” which is the source of terms such as parvovirus, a type of virus with a name that literally means “small poison.” To learn more, check out our entry for parvovirus.

What are variants of micro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, micro- becomes micr-, as in micrify, which comes from the Latin equivalent of the form. Want to know more? Read our 51�Թ�s That Use article about micr-.

Examples of micro-

A term from medicine that features micro- to mean “small” is microdactyly, “abnormal smallness or shortness of the fingers or toes.”

The form micro- means “small,” as we have already seen. The -dactyly part of the word means “the state of possessing fingers (or toes).” Microdactyly literally translates to “the state of possessing small fingers (or toes).”

What are some words that use the combining form micro-?

What are some other forms that micro- may be commonly confused with?

macr-
macro-

Break it down!

The combining form -phyll means “leaf.” With this in mind, what does microphyll literally mean?

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