macro

[ mak-roh ]
See synonyms for macro on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. very large in scale, scope, or capability.

  2. of or relating to macroeconomics.

noun,plural mac·ros.
  1. anything very large in scale, scope, or capability.

  2. Photography. a macro lens.

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

Origin of macro

1
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-

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

Origin of macro-

2
<Greek makro-, combining form of makrós long; cognate with Latin macer lean; see meager
  • Also especially before a vowel, macr-.

Words that may be confused with macro-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for macro (1 of 2)

macro

/ (ˈmækrəʊ) /


nounplural macros
  1. a macro lens

  2. 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-

combining form
  1. large, long, or great in size or duration: macroscopic

  2. (in pathology) indicating abnormal enlargement or overdevelopment: macrocyte Compare micro- (def. 5)

  1. producing larger than life images: macrophotography

Origin of macro-

2
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-

  1. 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.