microfilm

[mahy-kruh-film]

noun

1. a film bearing a miniature photographic copy of printed or other graphic matter, usually of a document, newspaper or book pages, etc., made for a library, archive, or the like.

2. a film, especially of motion-picture stock, on which microcopies are made.

verb (used with object)

1. to make a microfilm of.

microfilm

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌfɪlm /

noun

1. a strip of film of standard width on which books, newspapers, documents, etc, can be recorded in miniaturized form

verb

1. to photograph (a page, document, etc) on microfilm

microfilm

1. A film on which miniature copies of documents are reproduced. Microfilm allows for very compact storage of books and documents.

Other Word Forms

• microfilmer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of microfilm¹

First recorded in 1930–35; micro- + film

Example Sentences

Mexico's national archives had counted the document among a collection of papers signed by Cortés - but found 15 pages were missing when it was put on microfilm in 1993.

Read more on BBC

Traditional paint on canvas was often sidelined in favor of modern industrial materials such as poured resin, ground glass, lacquers and microfilm coatings.

Read more on New York Times

On one occasion, she received a microfilm that showed German forces lining up along the Soviet border for what looked like an imminent attack.

Read more on BBC

Previous attempts at putting the magazine on microfilm had resulted in barely legible pages marred by heavy black smudging, with some parts of pages missing or damaged.

Read more on Seattle Times

Its microfilm library contains scans of some homes’ original permits.

Read more on Seattle Times

Related Words

• image 
• likeness 
• photo 
• picture 
• portrait 
• print 
• snapshot