*micro*

{ }. [ Gr. mikro`s small. ] A combining form signifying: (a) Small, little, trivial, slight; as, microcosm, microscope. (b) (Metric System, Elec., Mech., etc.) A millionth part of; as, microfarad, microohm, micrometer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micr- + ampère. ] (Elec.) One of the smaller measures of electrical currents; the millionth part of one ampère. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + analysis. ] 1. Analysis of the structure of materials from careful observation of photomicrographs. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Chem.) Chemical analysis of very small quantities of substances, requiring special apparatus to handle and weigh small amounts of materials. [ PJC ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Micro-, and Bacterium. ] (Biol.) In the classification of Cohn, one of the four tribes of Bacteria. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ In this classification bacteria are divided into four tribes: 1. Spherobacteria, or spherical bacteria, as the genus Micrococcus. 2. Microbacteria, or bacteria in the form of short rods, including the genus Bacterium. 3. Desmobacteria, or bacteria in straight filaments, of which the genus Bacillus is a type. 4. Spirobacteria, or bacteria in spiral filaments, as the genus Vibrio. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + barograph. ] An instrument for recording minor fluctuations of atmospheric pressure, as opposed to general barometric surges. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. (Biol.) Of, pertaining to, or caused by, microbes; as, microbial growth; the microbian theory; a microbian disease. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. (Biol.) Of or pertaining to a microbe. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Microbe + L. caedere to kill. ] (Biol.) Any agent detrimental to, or destructive of, the life of microbes or bacterial organisms. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Microbe; -logy. ] The branch of biology studying minute organisms, or microbes, such as the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoa. -- Mi`cro*bi`o*log"ic*al a. -- Mi`cro*bi*ol"o*gist n. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. microbion, fr. Gr. &unr_; little + &unr_; life. ] (Biol.) A microscopic organism; a microorganism; -- particularly applied to bacteria and especially to pathogenic forms; as, the microbe of fowl cholera. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Micro- + cephalic, cephalous. ] (Anat.) Having a small head; having the cranial cavity small; -- opposed to megacephalic. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to microchemistry; as, a micro-chemical test. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + chemistry. ] The application of chemical tests to minute objects or portions of matter, usually assisted by sensitive instruments; -- distinguished from macro-chemistry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A chronoscope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + Gr. &unr_; to incline. ] (Min.) A mineral of the feldspar group, like orthoclase or common feldspar in composition, but triclinic in form. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to micrococci; caused by micrococci. Nature. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Micrococci [ NL. See Micro-, and Coccus. ] (Biol.) A genus of Spherobacteria, in the form of very small globular or oval cells, forming, by transverse division, filaments, or chains of cells, or in some cases single organisms shaped like dumb-bells (Diplococcus), all without the power of motion. See Illust. of Ascoccus. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Physiologically, micrococci are divided into three groups; chromogenic, characterized by their power of forming pigment; zymogenic, including those associated with definite chemical processes; and pathogenic, those connected with disease. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A small computer based on a microprocessor; in practise, at any given time in the technology of computer development, a microcomputer will be one that is less powerful than a minicomputer.
Syn. -- personal computer, PC. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ F. microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr. Gr. mikro`s small + ko`smos the world. ] 1. A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to macrocosm. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A relatively small object or system considered as representative of a larger system of which it is part, exhibiting many features of the complete system. [ PJC ]

{ } a. [ Cf. F. microcosmique. ] Of or pertaining to the microcosm. [ 1913 Webster ]

Microcosmic salt (Chem.), a white crystalline substance obtained by mixing solutions of sodium phosphate and ammonium phosphate, and also called hydric-sodic-ammonic-phosphate. It is a powerful flux, and is used as a substitute for borax as a blowpipe reagent in testing for the metallic oxides. Originally obtained by the alchemists from human urine, and called sal microcosmicum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Microcosm + -graphy. ] Description of man as a microcosm. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + coulomb. ] (Elec.) A measure of electrical quantity; the millionth part of one coulomb. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Micro- + acoustic: cf. F. microcoustique, micracoustique. ] Pertaining, or suited, to the audition of small sounds; fitted to assist hearing. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An instrument for making faint sounds audible, as to a partially deaf person. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + crith. ] (Chem.) The weight of the half hydrogen molecule, or of the hydrogen atom, at one time taken as the standard in comparing the atomic weights of the elements; thus, an atom of oxygen weighs sixteen microcriths. This unit is no longer used, and has been replaced by the Dalton, which is of approximately the same value. See molecular weight and Crith. J. P. Cooke. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. [ Micro- + crystalline. ] (Crystallog.) Crystalline on a fine, or microscopic, scale; consisting of fine crystals; as, the ground mass of certain porphyrics is microcrystalline. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + Gr. &unr_; a hollow vessel. ] (Physiol.) One of the elementary granules found in blood. They are much smaller than an ordinary corpuscle, and are particularly noticeable in disease, as in anaemia. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Micr- + Gr. 'odoy`s, 'odo`ntos, a tooth. ] (Anat.) Having small teeth. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + farad. ] (Elec.) The millionth part of a farad. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + film. ] a photographic film with one or more very small images of printed or other graphic matter. Numerous images, corresponding to the contents of a book, newspaper, or journal, are typically produced on one long roll of film, and may be viewed for reading in a special apparatus called a microfilm reader. [ PJC ]

v. t. to photograph and produce images of on microfilm. [ PJC ]

n. [ Micro- + form, n. ] (Biol.) A microscopic form of life; an animal or vegetable organism of microscopic size. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or pertaining to micro-geology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + geology. ] The part of geology relating to structure and organisms which require to be studied with a microscope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Micrography. ] 1. An instrument for executing minute writing or engraving. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. a graphic image, such as a photograph or drawing, representing an object as seen with a microscope, usually much enlarged as compared with the original object. A photograph of a microscopic image is also called a photomicrograph or microphotograph. [ PJC ]

a. Of or pertaining to micrography. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + -graphy: cf. F. micrographie. ] 1. The description of microscopic objects. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Examination or study by means of the microscope, as of an etched surface of metal to determine its structure. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Micr- + ohm. ] (Elec.) The millionth part of an ohm. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. See Micro-, and Lepidoptera. ] (Zool.) A tribe of Lepidoptera, including a vast number of minute species, as the plume moth, clothes moth, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. mikro`s small + &unr_; a robber. ] (Paleon.) An extinct genus of small Triassic mammals, the oldest yet found in European strata. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + -lite. ] (Min.) [ 1913 Webster ]

1. A rare mineral of resinous luster and high specific gravity. It is a tantalate of calcium, and occurs in octahedral crystals usually very minute. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Min.) A minute inclosed crystal, often observed when minerals or rocks are examined in thin sections under the microscope. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Micro- + lith. ] (Min.) Same as Microlite, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Formed of small stones. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to micrology; very minute; as, micrologic examination. -- Mi`cro*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Micro- + -logy. ] 1. That part of science which treats of microscopic objects, or depends on microscopic observation. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Attention to petty items or differences. W. Taylor. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ micro + mercurialism. Coined by the chemist A. Stock in 1926. See mercurialism. ] (1926) A form of mercury poisoning resulting from long term exposure to low doses of mercury. The syndrome of micromercurialism involves complex symptoms of stress, fatigue, memory loss, fine tremors, muscular and reflex insufficiency and low blood pressure, caused by accumulation of mercury in the system. A condition of hyperthermia is accompanied by a series of functional changes under the effects of mercury. The combined simultaneous effect of toxic action, temperature and galvanic response infers a cycle of disintegration and change. Work With Mercury (1972) As proposed by Stock, the syndrome was considered as the union of pathological changes in human body caused by means of low concentrations (as low as 0.01 mg per cubic meter) of mercury vapor over long exposure times (up to 10 years). [ PJC ]

n. [ Micro- + -mere. ] (Biol.) One of the smaller cells, or blastomeres, resulting from the complete segmentation of a telolecithal ovum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A meteorite so small that it drifts down to Earth without becoming intensely heated in the earth's atmosphere. [ WordNet 1.5 ]