micro

adjective mi·cro \ ˈmī-(ˌ)krō \

Updated on: 1 Dec 2017

Definition of micro

1 : very small; especially : microscopic

2 : involving minute quantities or variations

Recent Examples of micro from the Web

Harris helps entrepreneurs around the world by giving micro loans through kiva.org, a web site where people can give small loans to anyone and get repaid.

— patricia dillon, Houston Chronicle, "Students at The John Cooper School give back to local community, make a global impact," 2 Nov. 2017
The Invoke's base has the Harman Kardon logo on the front as well as the power connector, service-only micro USB port, mic/on-off button, and Bluetooth pairing button on the back.

— valentina palladino, Ars Technica, "Harman Kardon Invoke review: Cortana isn’t too comfortable in the home yet," 30 Oct. 2017
Finely detailed watercolors show macro and micro views of diverse habitats, creatures and threats — the environmental kind.

— susan faust, San Francisco Chronicle, "Roundup of new children’s books," 27 Oct. 2017
That disconnect between the President’s enthusiasm and local lawmakers’ micro-level hesitancy has been on display before.

— philip elliott, Time, "Donald Trump Doesn't Understand Local Politics. That's Hurting His Presidency," 26 Oct. 2017
Twitter has been criticized for allowing its micro-blogging service to became a preferred outlet for Islamic State to spread its propaganda.

— del quentin wilber, WSJ, "Twitter’s Efforts Curbed Pro-ISIS Accounts, Study Finds," 26 Oct. 2017
Cash was not micro-chipped, but that's the first thing Wunderlich took care of.

— CBS News, "Lost dog treks through New York City before winding up in deli," 21 Oct. 2017
And to prevent to the tiny bumps and micro-nicks that cause aforementioned irritation, use a brand new razor and shave safe.

— kim tranell, Seventeen, "Here's the Deal With Shaving Down There," 27 Sep. 2017
To investigate this further, the team put ant specimens through a micro CT scanner designed to pinpoint anatomical details in animals.

— carrie arnold, National Geographic, "Watch 'Monster' Ants Attack Faster Than the Blink of an Eye," 30 Aug. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'micro.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of micro

micr-

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1923

See Words from the same year

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

alkali, cation, decant, hygroscopic, isotope, oxidize, slurry, solute, viscous

micro

noun

Definition of micro

plural micros

1 : microcomputer

2 : microprocessor

Recent Examples of micro from the Web

This micro-brewery is a big, open space with garage doors and sports TV.

— polly campbell, Cincinnati.com, "Best of the West: Here's where you should eat on Cincinnati's West Side," 11 Oct. 2017
Offerings include strawberries for the first two weeks, vegetables, fruit, breads, pastries, pies, goat cheese, cow cheese, eggs, milk, maple honey, micro-greens, pasta, kettle corn, BBQ sauces; coffee and ice cream.

— Courant Community, "Community News For The South Windsor Edition," 18 Sep. 2017
Needs to function in a micro or zero gravity scenario.

— peter wade, Esquire, "NASA Needs You to Solve Its Zero Gravity Space Poop Problem," 4 Dec. 2016
The same air of gentility that smooths over micro-aggressions also suppresses factionalism, cattiness, and the occasional grudge.

— tyler joe, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Vintage Girls of New York City," 30 Aug. 2016
Opening on May 31 and running through September, this parallel exhibit will act as a micro to the Met's macro retrospective, highlighting the conversation between his fashion and interior creations.

— sarah bray, ELLE Decor, "The Met Celebrates A Couturier With Serious Interior Design Cred," 29 Apr. 2014
Within country, there are so many kind of micro-genres within that.

— chuck dauphin, Billboard, "Midland Looks Back On Its Breakthrough 2017," 9 Oct. 2017
Just in time for school, a hardy band of professors has joined together to commit a flagrant micro-aggression.

— james freeman, WSJ, "Ivy League Profs vs. ‘The Tyranny of Public Opinion’," 29 Aug. 2017
In this micro-apartment, little doesn't equate to low-tech.

— kelsey kloss, ELLE Decor, "A Tiny Apartment's Jaw-Dropping Micro Interior Design," 18 Apr. 2016

First Known Use of micro

1971

Other Computer-Related Terms

adware, flash, kludge, phishing, recursive, router

Medical Dictionary

micro

adjective mi·cro \ ˈmī-(ˌ)krō \

medical Definition of micro

1 : very small; especially : microscopic

2 involving minute quantities or variations

Learn More about micro

Spanish Central: Translation of micro Britannica English: Translation of micro for Arabic speakers

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micro

Definition of micro

Recent Examples of micro from the Web

Origin and Etymology of micro

Other Chemical Engineering Terms

micro

Definition of micro

Recent Examples of micro from the Web

First Known Use of micro

Other Computer-Related Terms

Medical Dictionary

micro

medical Definition of micro

Learn More about micro

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micro

Definition of micro

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