microcosm

mi·cro·cosm

noun \ˈmī-krə-ˌkä-zəm\

Definition of MICROCOSM

1

: a little world; especially : the human race or human nature seen as an epitome of the world or the universe

2

: a community or other unity that is an epitome of a larger unity

— mi·cro·cos·mic \ˌmī-krə-ˈkäz-mik\ adjective

— mi·cro·cos·mi·cal·ly \-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— in microcosm

: in a greatly diminished size, form, or scale

Examples of MICROCOSM

1. The village is a microcosm of the whole country.
2. The game was a microcosm of the entire season.

Origin of MICROCOSM

Middle English, from Medieval Latin microcosmus, modification of Greek mikros kosmos

First Known Use: 15th century