Micro- | Meaning Of Prefix Micro- By Etymonline

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Origin and history of micro-

micro-

word-forming element meaning "small in size or extent, microscopic; magnifying;" in science indicating a unit one millionth of the unit it is prefixed to; from Latinized form of mikros, Attic form of Greek smikros "small, little, petty, trivial, slight," perhaps from PIE *smika, from root *smik- "small" (source also of Old High German smahi "littleness"), but Beekes thinks it a Pre-Greek word.

Entries linking to micro-

mica(n.)

type of mineral that can be separated easily into extremely thin, tough laminae, 1706, from a Modern Latin specialized use of Latin mica "crumb, bit, morsel, grain." This is sometimes said to be from the same source as Attic Greek mikros "small" (see micro-). The word was applied to the mineral probably on the supposition that it was related to Latin micare "to flash, glitter" (see micacious). However a recent theory of the origin of the Latin noun does derive it from the same root as micare, on the notion of "a glittering crystalline particle" (originally a grain of salt), which de Vaan finds "formally more attractive" than the connection to the Greek word. Older native names for it were glimmer and cat-silver. Related: Micaceous "containing mica" (1748).

microbe(n.)

popular name for a bacterium or other extremely small living being, 1878, from French microbe, "badly coined ... by Sédillot" [Weekley] in 1878 from Latinized form of Greek mikros "small" (see micro-) + bios "life" (from PIE root *gwei- "to live"). Intended to mean literally "a small living being," the use of bios is incorrect, as in modern science generally (see bio-); in Greek the compound would mean "short-lived."

• microbiology
• microcephalic
• microchip
• microcircuit
• microclimate
• microcomputer
• microcosm
• microdot
• microeconomics
• microelectronics
• microfiche
• microfilm
• micrography
• microinstruction
• micrology
• micromanage
• micromania
• micrometer
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microcosmlate 12c., mycrocossmos (modern form from early 15c.), "human nature, man viewed as the epitome of creation," literally "miniature world" (applied metaphorically to the human frame by philosophers, hence a favorite word with medieval writers to signify "a man"), from Medieval Latantibiotic"destructive to micro-organisms," 1894, from French antibiotique (c. 1889), from anti- "against" (see anti-) + biotique "...aerobicHence aerobe "type of micro-organism which lives on oxygen from the air."...germpreserved in wheat germ and germ of an idea; sense of "seed of a disease" first recorded 1796 in English; that of "harmful micro-organism...rickettsiaparasitic micro-organism, 1919, from German, coined 1916 in Modern Latin by H. da Rocha-Lima in honor of U.S. pathologist...kaput"finished, worn out, dead," 1895 as a German word in English, from German kaputt "destroyed, ruined, lost" (1640s), which in this sense probably is a misunderstanding of an expression from card-playing, capot machen, a partial translation into German of French faire capot, a phraaloof1530s, "to windward," from a- (1) "on" + Middle English loof "windward direction," which is probably from Dutch loef (Middle Dutch lof) "the weather side of a ship" (see luff (n.)). Originally in nautical orders to keep the ship's head to the wind, and thus stay clear of a lee-shslang1756, "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves" or any set of persons of low character, later "jargon of a particular profession" (1801). The sense of "very informal language characterized by vividness and novelty" is by 1818. Anatoly Liberman writes here an extensive account of notorious1540s, "publicly known and spoken of," from Medieval Latin notorius "well-known, commonly known," from Latin notus "known," past participle of noscere "come to know," from PIE root *gno- "to know." Middle English had notoire (mid-14c. in Anglo-French), from Old French, "well-knowakimbo"with the hands on the hips and the elbows bent outward at sharp angles," c. 1400, in kenebowe, of unknown origin, perhaps from Middle English phrase in keen bow "at a sharp angle" (with keen in its Middle English sense of "sharp" + bow "arch"), or from a Scandinavian word akin t

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‘cite’Page URL:https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro-CopyHTML Link:<a href="https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro-">Etymology of micro- by etymonline</a>CopyAPA Style:Harper, D. (n.d.). Etymology of micro-. Online Etymology Dictionary. Retrieved December 30, 2025, from https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro-CopyChicago Style:Harper Douglas, "Etymology of micro-," Online Etymology Dictionary, accessed December 30, 2025, https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro-.CopyMLA Style:Harper, Douglas. "Etymology of micro-." Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro-. Accessed 30 December, 2025.CopyIEEE Style:D. Harper. "Etymology of micro-." Online Etymology Dictionary. https://www.etymonline.com/word/micro- (accessed December 30, 2025).CopyRemove AdsAdvertisement

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TrendingDictionary entries near micro-

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