macro-

a combining form meaning “large,” “long,” “great,” “excessive,” used in the formation of compound words, contrasting with micro-: macrocosm; macrofossil; macrograph; macroscopic.

Also especially before a vowel, macr-.

Origin of macro-

< Greek makro-, combining form of makrós long; cognate with Latin macer lean; see meager

Can be confusedmacro- micro-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for macro-

macro-

before a vowel macr-

combining form

large, long, or great in size or durationmacroscopic
(in pathology) indicating abnormal enlargement or overdevelopmentmacrocyte Compare micro- (def. 5)
producing larger than life imagesmacrophotography

Word Origin for macro-

from Greek makros large; compare Latin macer meagre

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for macro-

word-forming element meaning "long, abnormally large, on a large scale," taken into English via Middle French and Medieval Latin from Greek makros "long, large," from PIE root *mak- "long, thin" (cf. Latin macer "lean, thin;" Old Norse magr, Old English mæger "lean, thin;" Greek mekos "length").

macro- in Medicine

macro-

pref.

Large:macronucleus.
Long:macrobiotic.
Inclusive:macroamylase.

macro- in Science

macro-

A prefix meaning large, as in macromolecule, a large molecule.