micr-

combining form or micro-

Etymology: Middle English micro-, from Latin, from Greek mikr-, mikro-, from mikros, smikros small, short; akin to Old English smēalīc 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

microcyst

— often used to contrast with macr-

b. : enlarging : magnifying or amplifying — in names of instruments

microphone

microscope

c. — used for small or minute size, quantities, intensities, or variations

microbarograph

microcalorimeter

micrograph

d. : minutely

microlevel

2. : one millionth part of (a specified unit)

microsecond

— especially in terms used in the metric system

microgram

and in electricity

microfarad

microhm

3. : microscopic: as

a. : dealing with, employing, or used in microscopy

micropaleontology

microtome

b. : revealed by or having its structure discernible only by microscopical examination

microfossil

c. : prepared for microscopical examination

microsection

4. : abnormally small

microdactylous

— chiefly in nouns denoting a condition of a specified part of the body

micrognathia

5. : of, involving, or for very small or minute quantities of material : on a small or minute scale of chemical operation : microchemical : microanalytical

microbalance

microsublimation

— compare semimicro-, ultramicro-

6. : of very fine grain : in names of rocks

microgranite

7. : of or relating to a small area

microclimate

microeconomics

microhabitat

8. : microphotographed or microfilmed

microcopy

: employed in or relating to microphotographing or microfilming

microreader

* * *

micr-,

combining form. the form of micro- (Cf. ↑micro-) before vowels, as in microhm.

MICR (no periods),

magnetic ink character recognition (a technique for sensing type faces by computer, used especially in processing bank checks and in printing).