micro
UK[ˈmaɪkrəʊ]US[ˈmaɪkroʊ]
n
A microcomputer or microprocessor.
n
A very small thing, especially a microorganism.
adj
Very small; involving a small scale.
Morpheme Breakdown
micr
o
micr
small
o
connective element
Etymology
The word 'micro' is a direct borrowing and shortening of the Greek adjective mikros, meaning "small". It entered English primarily as a prefix in scientific terminology from the 19th century onward, used to denote extreme smallness, as in 'microscope' or 'microorganism'. Its standalone use as a noun and adjective, referring to microcomputers or anything very small, developed in the 20th century, leveraging the established meaning of the prefix. The connective 'o' is a standard feature in neoclassical compounds, making 'micro' a ready-made building block for modern English vocabulary.
Analysis
Structure: micr (small) + o (connective element)
- micr: From Greek mikros, meaning "small".
- o: A connective vowel (often 'o') used in English to combine Greek-derived roots with other elements.
Examples
He built his own micro from a kit in the 1980s.
The lab studies microbes found in extreme environments.
We are witnessing a shift in the micro economy of the platform.