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mi·cro·scop·ic | \ ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik 
\
\variants:
or less commonly microscopical \ ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pi-kəl \
\Definition of microscopic
1 : resembling a microscope especially in perception
2a : invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope
b : very small or fine or precise
3 : of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
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Other Words from microscopic
microscopically \ ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pi-k(ə-)lē \ adverb
\ adverbSynonyms & Antonyms for microscopic
Synonyms
- atomic,
- bitsy,
- bitty,
- infinitesimal,
- itty-bitty
- (or itsy-bitsy),
- little bitty,
- microminiature,
- miniature,
- minuscule,
- minute,
- teensy,
- teensy-weensy,
- teeny,
- teeny-weeny,
- tiny,
- wee,
- weeny
- (also weensy)
Antonyms
- astronomical
- (also astronomic),
- colossal,
- cosmic
- (also cosmical),
- elephantine,
- enormous,
- giant,
- gigantic,
- herculean,
- heroic
- (also heroical),
- huge,
- immense,
- mammoth,
- massive,
- monster,
- monstrous,
- monumental,
- mountainous,
- planetary,
- prodigious,
- titanic,
- tremendous
Examples of microscopic in a Sentence
At this point, the embryo is a microscopic clump of only 100 cells.
There is a microscopic crack in the diamond.
He has a microscopic attention span.
He recorded every aspect of his trip in microscopic detail.
a microscopic study of plant tissues
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Recent Examples on the Web Plugable: Take an extra $9 off the brand's USB 2.0 Digital Microscope, perfect for students or anyone interested in the microscopic world.
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Staff, CNN Underscored, "Black Friday 2019: All the best deals you can shop today," 29 Nov. 2019 But because no fiber is perfectly transparent, some tiny amount of light will always scatter, bouncing back toward shore off microscopic flaws in the glass.
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Wired, "Scientists Spot an Undersea Fault Using Fiber-Optic Cables," 28 Nov. 2019 But Spear isn’t concerned with just plastic pollution – the microscopic pieces that end up in our fish and our drinking water.
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Laura Johnston, cleveland, "Lake Erie paddler Stefanie Spear to sail on all-women eXXpedition to spotlight plastic pollution," 26 Nov. 2019 While Wingert was released from the hospital on Tuesday, Khan said there were still microscopic pieces of the cancer that will need to be treated separately from the surgery.
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Fox News, "New Jersey man has tumor size of his head removed from neck," 13 Nov. 2019 Their daily buffet of germs provides their immune systems with thorough intel on countless microscopic enemies.
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Beth Mole, Ars Technica, "Here’s how measles wipes out the immune system’s memory," 6 Nov. 2019 Whale excrement is so rich in iron and nitrogen that whale bowel movements trigger blooms of microscopic phytoplankton.
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Ben Guarino, Anchorage Daily News, "Living whales are worth an enormous amount of money," 4 Nov. 2019 The microscopic red-tide causing phytoplankton known as Karenia brevis tested positive in very low to high concentrations in Lee County, and background to high concentrations in Collier County.
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Joe Mario Pedersen, orlandosentinel.com, "Red tide continues to roll through southwest Florida coasts," 24 Oct. 2019 One last glimpse Little things, big pictures: This portrait of a embryonic turtle was taken from hundreds of stacked and stitched together images—and became a winner of Nikon’s Small World 2019 contest for microscopic images.
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National Geographic, "How to mix style and sustainability," 23 Oct. 2019
See MoreThese example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'microscopic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for microscopic
microscopic
adjectiveEnglish Language Learners Definition of microscopic
: able to be seen only through a microscope : extremely small
: much smaller than what is usual, normal, or expected
: done with a microscope
See the full definition for microscopic in the English Language Learners Dictionary
microscopic
adjectivemi·cro·scop·ic | \ ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik \
\Kids Definition of microscopic
1 : of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope
a microscopic examination
2 : so small as to be visible only through a microscope : very tiny
a microscopic crack
microscopic
adjectivemi·cro·scop·ic | \ ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik \
\variants:
or microscopical \ -i-kəl \
\Medical Definition of microscopic
1 : of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
2 : so small or fine as to be invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope — compare macroscopic, submicroscopic, ultramicroscopic sense 1
Other Words from microscopic
microscopically \ -i-k(ə-)lē \ adverb
\ adverbKeep scrolling for more
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Time Traveler for microscopic
The first known use of microscopic was circa 1672
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