Main Entry: mi·cro·cosm

Pronunciation: \ˈmī-krə-ˌkä-zəm\

Function: noun

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

Date: 15th century

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