Ancient Greek word root · Number & Measure

micro-: small

micro- is an Ancient Greek root meaning “small”. Learn its variants and explore 6 connected words.

Meaning and variants

Meaning: small

Root forms: micro-

Source word: μικρός — little, small

Word family and examples

• microphone

  an instrument for converting sound waves into electrical energy

• microscope

  an instrument for magnifying very small objects

• microcosm

  Human nature or the human body as representative of the wider universe; man considered as a miniature counterpart of divine or universal nature.

• microbiome

  The genetic information (genomes) of a microbiota.

• microbe

  Any microorganism; (loosely, nonscientifically) especially, a harmful bacterium.

• micrometer

  A device used to measure distance very precisely but within a limited range, especially depth, thickness, and diameter.

Root connections help with vocabulary recall. They are not a complete etymological history, and a spelling match alone does not prove a relationship.

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