microscopic

adjective

mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik How to pronounce microscopic (audio)
variants or less commonly microscopical
1
: resembling a microscope especially in perception
2
a
: 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
microscopically adverb

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
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This condition causes an imbalance in the microscopic organisms within the body, which can have negative impacts on health, per Cleveland Clinic. Melissa Rudy, Fox News, 20 Nov. 2024 That variation depends in part on the microscopic surface topography of the table as the bottle slides across it. Mack Degeurin, Popular Science, 20 Nov. 2024 Even hiking and horseback riding can disturb the ground enough to release the microscopic spores. Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 15 Nov. 2024 Onboard scientists can monitor the impact of various stressors on these microscopic algae and other species—without costly freezing and transportation or the months-long wait of getting samples to shore. Cnt Editors, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for microscopic 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1672, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of microscopic was circa 1672

Dictionary Entries Near microscopic

Cite this Entry

“Microscopic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microscopic. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

microscopic

adjective
mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik How to pronounce microscopic (audio)
variants also microscopical
1
: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
a microscopic examination
2
: resembling a microscope : able to see very tiny objects
some insects have microscopic vision
3
: able to be seen only through a microscope : very small
a microscopic plant
microscopically adverb

Medical Definition

microscopic

adjective
mi·​cro·​scop·​ic ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik How to pronounce microscopic (audio)
variants or microscopical
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
microscopically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on microscopic

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