microscopic
adjectiveattested in dialogue
- United Kingdom//ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɒp.ɪk//
- United States//ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɑ.pɪk//
- Canada//ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɒp.ɪk//
- Australia//ˌmɑe.kɹəˈskɔp.ɪk//
- New Zealand//ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɒp.ək//
Of, or relating to microscopes or microscopy; microscopal
adjective
- 1
Of, or relating to microscopes or microscopy; microscopal
We supply all microscopic stains and other materials.
- 2
So small that it can only be seen with the aid of a microscope.
The water was full of microscopic organisms.
Yiannas said there has been widespread public confusion about cyclosporiasis, an intestinal illness caused by the microscopic parasite Cyclospora cayetanensis, also known as cyclospora, that can cause explosive diarrhea.
- 3
Very small; minute
Compared to the galaxy, we are microscopic in scale.
By wholesale omission of connections and by the use of a microscopic scale of photographic reproduction which makes some of the most important tables difficult to read, the size has been cut down from last winter's 580 to 520 pages only.
... the notion of the microscopic was often used in the foundations of quantum theory right from the start, to indicate the realm in which quantum theory is required in order to explain phenomena when classical theory cannot do so; quantum theory was generally considered in those years to apply only to situations involving atoms and smaller “microscopic” entities...
- 4
figurativeCarried out with great attention to detail.
The police carried out a microscopic search of the crime scene.
- 5
Able to see extremely minute objects.
Why has not man a microscopic eye?
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós) Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai) Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō) Proto-Indo-European *-(i)yós Proto-Italic *-ijos Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -iusnom. Latin -ium Latin mīcroscopiumlbor. Italian microscopiobor. English microscope Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English microscopic From microscope + -ic.
Forms
- comparative
- more microscopic
- superlative
- most microscopic
microscopic · Of, or relating to microscopes or microscopy; microscopal
microwave · An electromagnetic wave with wavelength between that of…mid · Occupying a middle position; middle.midday · Noon; twelve o'clock during the day.