macro

[ mak-roh ]

/ ˈmæk roʊ /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for macro on Thesaurus.com

adjective

very large in scale, scope, or capability.

of or relating to macroeconomics.

noun, plural mac·ros.

anything very large in scale, scope, or capability.

Photography. a macro lens.

Also called macroinstruction. Computers. an instruction that represents a sequence of instructions in abbreviated form.

macroeconomics.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of macro

Independent use of macro-, taken as an adjective, or by shortening of words with macro- as initial element

Definition for macro (2 of 2)

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

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH macro-

macro- , micro-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for macro

On another, more macro level, did you find Europe to be such a cesspool of intrigue?
How The Cold War Endgame Played Out In The Rubble Of The Berlin Wall|William O’Connor|November 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Greason started out at Intel but felt the zero-gravity pull of the rocket macro-process in which he now holds 22 patents.
Up to a Point: A 'Space Corvette' in Every Garage|P. J. O’Rourke|September 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Yep, organic rice syrup—i.e., sugar—is still its main ingredient, no matter how macro its biotics may be.
Your Health Food’s Hidden Sugar Bomb|Michael Schulson|July 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
All the macro statistics bear that out (percentage of people employed, real wages, percentage of GDP going to labor, etc.).
Is Crowdsourced Labor the Future of Middle Class Employment?|Sarah Kunst|March 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST

We experience power every day, in a million different ways, in our own lives, from the micro to the macro.
Beau Willimon on Most Shocking Twists in ‘House of Cards’ Season 2|Andrew Romano|February 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But for all this Charicles satisfied Macro, "that the flame of life was expiring, and could not outlast two days."
The Reign of Tiberius, Out of the First Six Annals of Tacitus|Tacitus
The sombre pines of California and the macro carpa cypress cover thousands of acres.
The Long White Cloud|William Pember Reeves
With a few exceptions this work only treats of what are, for the sake of convenience, termed the Macro-Lepidoptera.
New Zealand Moths and Butterflies|G. V. Hudson
He was succeeded in his power by Sertorius Macro, who had aided in his destruction.
A Smaller History of Rome|William Smith and Eugene Lawrence
Macro's correspondence with literary men and artists forms the additional MSS.
Early English Dramatists--Recently Recovered "Lost" Tudor Plays with some others|Various

British Dictionary definitions for macro (1 of 2)

macro

/ (ˈmækrəʊ) /

noun plural macros

a macro lens

Also: macro instruction a single computer instruction that initiates a set of instructions to perform a specific task

British Dictionary definitions for macro (2 of 2)

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

Medical definitions for macro

macro-

pref.

Large:macronucleus.

Long:macrobiotic.

Inclusive:macroamylase.

Scientific definitions for macro

macro-

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

macro

adjective

noun, plural mac·ros.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

Origin of macro

Definition for macro (2 of 2)

Origin of macro-

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH macro-

Example sentences from the Web for macro

British Dictionary definitions for macro (1 of 2)

noun plural macros

British Dictionary definitions for macro (2 of 2)

before a vowel macr-

combining form

Word Origin for macro-

Medical definitions for macro

pref.

Scientific definitions for macro

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

macro

adjective

noun, plural mac·ros.

QUIZZES

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

Origin of macro

Definition for macro (2 of 2)

Origin of macro-

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH macro-

Words related to macro

Example sentences from the Web for macro

British Dictionary definitions for macro (1 of 2)

noun plural macros

British Dictionary definitions for macro (2 of 2)

before a vowel macr-

combining form

Word Origin for macro-

Medical definitions for macro

pref.

Scientific definitions for macro