micro-

¹

especially before a vowel, micr-.

1. a combining form with the meanings “small” (microcosm; microgamete ), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” (microcassette; microlith ), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” (microfossil; microorganism ), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities of a substance” (microdissection; microscope ), “localized, restricted in scope or area” (microburst; microhabitat ), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” (microeconomics ), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” (microfilm; microreader ), “one millionth” (microgram ).

micro

²

[mahy-kroh]

adjective

1. extremely small.

2. minute in scope or capability.

3. of or relating to microcomputers.

4. of or relating to microeconomics.

noun

plural

micros 

1. anything extremely small in scope or capability.

2. a microcomputer.

3. microeconomics.

micro-

¹

combining form

1. small or minute

   microspore

2. involving the use of a microscope

   micrography

3. indicating a method or instrument for dealing with small quantities

   micrometer

4. (in pathology) indicating abnormal smallness or underdevelopment Compare macro-

   microcephaly

   microcyte

5. μ. denoting 10 ^–6

   microsecond

micro

²

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊ /

adjective

1. very small

noun

1. short for microcomputer microlepidoptera microprocessor microwave oven

micro–

1. A prefix that means: “small” (as in microorganism) or “one millionth” (as in microsecond).

Word History and Origins

Origin of micro–¹

< Greek: combining form representing mīkrós small

Origin of micro–²

Independent use of micro-, or shortening of words with this initial element

Word History and Origins

Origin of micro–¹

from Greek mikros small

Example Sentences

In fact, it’s a popular series that appears on ReelShort, an app where audiences can view on their smartphones over-the-top, dramatic tales reminiscent of soap operas called micro dramas.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Citigroup cautioned in a report this month that it is starting to see some red flags there, what they dubbed “potential micro bubbles building under the surface.”

Read more on Barron's

There are cases where bank tellers themselves have been charged with fraud, cashing stolen checks, making micro withdrawals from accounts or even selling customer IDs to third parties.

Read more on MarketWatch

Most had had previous, less severe incidents—or “micro concussions”—that while not enough to send them to a clinician, predisposed them to a bigger event, he said.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

This developing plot line, however, stays in the background as customers turn up demanding to look like Beyoncé or requesting micro braids, a labor-intensive torture for overworked hands.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• compact 
• mini 
• pocket 
• pocket-size 
• portable 
• scaled-down www.thesaurus.com
• small 

When To Use

What does micro- mean?

Micro- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “small.” In units of measurement, micro- means "one millionth." The form micro- is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.Micro- comes from Greek mīkrós, meaning “small.” The Latin equivalent of mīkrós is parvus, also meaning “small,” which is the source of terms such as parvovirus, a type of virus with a name that literally means “small poison.” To learn more, check out our entry for parvovirus.What are variants of micro-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, micro- becomes micr-, as in micrify, which comes from the Latin equivalent of the form. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about micr-.