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macro

[ mak-roh ]
/ ˈmæk roʊ /
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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.
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Origin of macro

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

Other definitions 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. 2023

WORDS THAT USE MACRO-

What does macro- mean?

Macro– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “large; long; great; excessive.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Macro– comes from Greek makrós, meaning “long.” The Latin translation of makrós is longus, also meaning “long,” which is the source of terms such as longanimity and longitude. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

What are variants of macro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, macro– becomes macr, as in macrencephaly. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about macr-.

Examples of macro-

A scientific term that features the form macro– is macrocyte, “an abnormally large red blood cell.”

The macro– part of the word macrocyte means “large,” as we have seen. The cyte part of the word means “cell,” from Greek kýtos. Macrocyte literally translates to “large cell.”

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

What are some other forms that macro– may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

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

How to use macro in a sentence

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

Scientific definitions for macro

macro-

A prefix meaning “large,” as in macromolecule, a large molecule.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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