microscopy

American  

[mahy-kros-kuh-pee, mahy-kruh-skoh-pee] / maɪˈkrɒs kə pi, ˈmaɪ krəˌskoʊ pi /

noun

1. the use of the microscope.

2. microscopic investigation.

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microscopy British  

/ maɪˈkrɒskəpɪ /

noun

1. the study, design, and manufacture of microscopes

2. investigation by use of a microscope

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Other Word Forms

• microscopist
  noun

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Etymology

Origin of microscopy

First recorded in 1655–65; microscope + -y ³

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Explanation

Microscopy is the field of using a special instrument to observe things that are otherwise too small to see. If you yearn to study amoebas or bacteria up close, you'll want to pursue microscopy! Microscopy is an area of scientific research that specializes in using microscopes. Both words are derived from the Greek roots mikros, "small," and skopein, "to examine." While microscopy is a technical field, if you make a habit of examining tiny things up close with the help of a microscope — drops of rainwater, an insect wing, your cat's fur — that's microscopy too.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

microscopy

Almost a century ago, a breakthrough in microscopy gave scientists an entirely new way to examine the inside of cells.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 22, 2026

Working with the high-resolution macromolecular cryo-electron microscopy facility at UBC's faculty of medicine, the team was able to observe precisely how statin molecules interact with the muscle protein.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2026

Using an advanced microscopy technique, the researchers were able to record individual cells through the skin of living mice.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 18, 2026

Interferometric scattering microscopy takes advantage of this behavior on a much smaller scale.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 17, 2026

Thus, for relief, Maurice had taken up interference microscopy to find a trick for weighing chromosomes.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

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