microscopic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Of, or relating to microscopes or microscopy; microscopal
  2. So small that it can only be seen with the aid of a microscope.
  3. Very small; minute
  4. Carried out with great attention to detail.
  5. Able to see extremely minute objects.

Pronunciation

mī'krəskŏʹpĭk /ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɒp.ɪk/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-microscopic.wav /ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɑ.pɪk/ /ˌmɑe.kɹəˈskɔp.ɪk/ /ˌmaɪ.kɹəˈskɒp.ək/ [ˌmɑe̯.kɹəˈskɔ̟p.ək]

Word forms

microscopic more microscopic most microscopic

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? Ancient Greek μῑκρός (mīkrós) Proto-Indo-European *speḱ- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *spéḱyeti Proto-Hellenic *sképťomai Ancient Greek σκέπτομαι (sképtomai) Proto-Indo-European *-ós Proto-Hellenic *-ós ▲ Ancient Greek -ος (-os)influ. Ancient Greek -ός (-ós) Ancient Greek σκοπός (skopós) Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *-eyéti Proto-Indo-European *-esyéti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁ti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éh₁yeti Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Ancient Greek -έω (-éō) Ancient Greek σκοπέω (skopéō) Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ium Latin mīcroscopiumlbor. Italian microscopiobor. English microscope Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English microscopic From microscope + -ic.

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