DEFINITIONS
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macrocosm

[ mak-ruh-koz-uh m ]
/ ˈmæk rəˌkɒz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR macrocosm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the great world or universe; the universe considered as a whole (opposed to microcosm).
the total or entire complex structure of something: the macrocosm of war.
a representation of a smaller unit or entity by a larger one, presumably of a similar structure.

Words related to macrocosm

cosmos, whole, totality, nature, universe, world

Words nearby macrocosm

macroclimate, macroclimatology, macrocode, macrocolon, macrocornea, macrocosm, macrocranium, macrocryoglobulinemia, macrocyclic, macrocyst, macrocyte

Origin of macrocosm

1590–1600; < French macrocosme < Medieval Latin macrocosmus. See macro-, cosmos

OTHER WORDS FROM macrocosm

mac·ro·cos·mic, adjectivemac·ro·cos·mi·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for macrocosm

British Dictionary definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm
/ (ˈmækrəˌkɒzəm) /

noun

a complex structure, such as the universe or society, regarded as an entirety, as opposed to microcosms, which have a similar structure and are contained within it
any complex entity regarded as a complete system in itself
Compare microcosm

Derived forms of macrocosm

macrocosmic, adjectivemacrocosmically, adverb

Word Origin for macrocosm

C16: via French and Latin from Greek makros kosmos great world
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

Culture definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm

A representation of something on a much larger scale. (Compare microcosm.)

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.