micro

See also: Micro and micro-

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”), or shortened form for modern words formed from its derivative micro-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊ/

Adjective

micro (comparative more micro, superlative most micro)

1. Small, relatively small; used to contrast levels of the noun modified.

   At the micro level he was a good manager. At the macro level he failed.

Antonyms

• macro

Noun

micro (countable and uncountable, plural micros)

1. (computing, dated, countable) short form of microcomputer
   • 1984, Mike Gerrard, Bryan Skinner, Mr Chips comes home: micros and home education (page 23)

     If you can possibly afford to spend a few more pounds then you should move up into the next price bracket, where the potential of the home micro starts to be realised.

   • 1986, Rachael Smith, Bomb Jack (video game review) in Your Sinclair issue 5, May 1986

     So what sort of hero is this bounding, bomb collecting midget? The answer is an arcade hero - and now he's let loose in your micro courtesy of conversion kings, Elite.

2. (gaming slang, uncountable) micromanagement
3. (colloquial, economics, uncountable) Clipping of microeconomics.

Derived terms

• (microcomputer): micromania

Verb

micro (third-person singular simple present micros or microes, present participle microing, simple past and past participle microed)

1. (gaming slang) to micromanage

Anagrams

• Romic, cormi, moric

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French

Noun

micro m (plural micros)

1. mic (microphone)
2. micro (microcomputer)
3. (obsolete) microscope

Further reading

• “micro”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

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Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈmikɾo/ [ˈmi.kɾo]

Etymology 1

Short for microbús.

Noun

micro m (plural micros)

1. (Chile, Argentina) public bus
2. (Mexico) minibus

Synonyms

• ómnibus
• (Argentina): colectivo
• (Mexico): pesero, combi

Etymology 2

Short for microondas.

Noun

micro m (plural micros)

1. (Spain) microwave

Etymology 3

Short for micrófono.

Noun

micro m (plural micros)

1. (Spain) mic, microphone

Further reading

• “micro”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014