combining form
or micro-
Etymology: Middle English micro-, from Latin, from Greek mikr-, mikro-, from mikros, smikros small, short; akin to Old English smēa līc careful, exquisite, Old High German smāhi small, low, Old Norse smār small, and perhaps to Old English smītan to smear — more at smite
1.
a. : small : minute : petty
micro cyst
— often used to contrast with macr-
b. : enlarging : magnifying or amplifying — in names of instruments
micro phone
micro scope
c. — used for small or minute size, quantities, intensities, or variations
micro barograph
micro calorimeter
micro graph
d. : minutely
micro level
2. : one millionth part of (a specified unit)
micro second
— especially in terms used in the metric system
micro gram
and in electricity
micro farad
micr ohm
3. : microscopic: as
a. : dealing with, employing, or used in microscopy
micro paleontology
micro tome
b. : revealed by or having its structure discernible only by microscopical examination
micro fossil
c. : prepared for microscopical examination
micro section
4. : abnormally small
micro dactylous
— chiefly in nouns denoting a condition of a specified part of the body
micro gnathia
5. : of, involving, or for very small or minute quantities of material : on a small or minute scale of chemical operation : microchemical : microanalytical
micro balance
micro sublimation
— compare semimicro-, ultramicro-
6. : of very fine grain : in names of rocks
micro granite
7. : of or relating to a small area
micro climate
micro economics
micro habitat
8. : microphotographed or microfilmed
micro copy
: employed in or relating to microphotographing or microfilming
micro reader