micro|bio|logi|cal /ma I kroʊba I əlɒ dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [ADJ n] Microbiological refers to studies or tests relating to very small living things such as bacteria and their effects on people. □ …microbiological testing.
micro|bi|ol|ogy /ma I kroʊbaiɒ lədʒi/ N‑UNCOUNT Microbiology is the branch of biology which is concerned with very small living things such as bacteria and their effects on people. □ …a professor of microbiology and immunology. ● micro|bi|olo|gist (microbiologists ) N‑COUNT □ …a microbiologist at Liverpool University.
mi|cro|blog /ma I krəʊblɒg/ (microblogs ) N‑COUNT A microblog is a blog which is often intended for a particular group of people and consists of very short messages. [COMPUTING ] □ Traditional media organizations have begun to send headlines and links in microblog posts.
mi cro-bre wery (micro-breweries ) N‑COUNT A micro-brewery is a type of small brewery where beer is produced using traditional methods.
micro|chip /ma I kroʊtʃ I p/ (microchips ) N‑COUNT A microchip is a very small piece of silicon inside a computer. It has electronic circuits on it and can hold large quantities of information or perform mathematical and logical operations.
micro|com|put|er /ma I kroʊkəmpjuː tə r / (microcomputers ) also micro-computer N‑COUNT A microcomputer is a small computer, especially one used for writing documents.
micro|cosm /ma I kroʊkɒzəm/ (microcosms ) N‑COUNT [oft in N ] A microcosm is a small society, place, or activity which has all the typical features of a much larger one and so seems like a smaller version of it. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Kitchell says the city was a microcosm of all American culture during the '60s.
micro|cred|it /ma I kroʊkred I t/ N‑UNCOUNT Microcredit is credit in the form of small loans offered to local businesses, especially in developing countries. [BUSINESS ] □ …a microcredit scheme which provides credit to small businesses.
micro|ec|o|nom|ics /ma I kroʊiː kənɒ m I ks, -e k-/ also micro-economics N‑UNCOUNT [BUSINESS ] Microeconomics is the branch of economics that is concerned with individual areas of economic activity, such as those within a particular company or relating to a particular market. □ He has 250 students in his microeconomics module. ● micro|ec|o|nom|ic /ma I kroʊiː kənɒ m I k, -e k-/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …a textbook on microeconomic theory.
micro|elec|tron|ics /ma I kroʊelektrɒ n I ks/ The form microelectronic is used as a modifier. N‑UNCOUNT Microelectronics is the branch of electronics that deals with miniature electronic circuits.
micro|fibre /ma I kroʊfa I bə r / (microfibres ) in AM, use microfiber N‑VAR [oft N n] Microbfibres are extremely light artificial fibres that are used to make cloth.
micro|fiche /ma I kroʊfiːʃ/ (microfiches ) N‑VAR A microfiche is a small sheet of film on which writing or other information is stored, greatly reduced in size.
micro|film /ma I kroʊf I lm/ (microfilms ) N‑VAR Microfilm is film that is used for photographing information and storing it in a reduced form.
mi cro-o rganism (micro-organisms ) also microorganism N‑COUNT A micro-organism is a very small living thing which you can only see if you use a microscope.
micro|phone /ma I krəfoʊn/ (microphones ) N‑COUNT A microphone is a device that is used to make sounds louder or to record them.
micro|pro|ces|sor /ma I kroʊproʊ sesə r / (microprocessors ) N‑COUNT In a computer, the microprocessor is the main microchip, which controls its most important functions. [COMPUTING ]
micro|scope /ma I krəskoʊp/ (microscopes )
1 N‑COUNT A microscope is a scientific instrument which makes very small objects look bigger so that more detail can be seen.
2 PHRASE If you say that something is under the microscope , you mean that it is being studied very closely, usually because it is believed that something is wrong with it. □ The media put their every decision under the microscope.
micro|scop|ic /ma I krəskɒ p I k/
1 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Microscopic objects are extremely small, and usually can be seen only through a microscope. □ …microscopic fibres of protein.
2 ADJ [ADJ n] A microscopic examination is done using a microscope. □ Microscopic examination of a cell's chromosomes can reveal the sex of the fetus. ● micro|scopi|cal|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ The tissue is examined microscopically to rule out or confirm cancer.
3 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you say that something is done in microscopic detail, you are emphasizing that it is done in a very thorough, detailed way. [EMPHASIS ] □ He carefully recounts the tale, the microscopic details of those crucial minutes.
micro|sec|ond /ma I kroʊsekənd/ (microseconds ) N‑COUNT A microsecond is one millionth of a second.
micro|sur|gery /ma I kroʊsɜː r dʒəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Microsurgery is a form of surgery where doctors repair or remove parts of the body that are so small that they can only be seen clearly using a microscope.
micro|wave /ma I kroʊwe I v/ (microwaves , microwaving , microwaved )
1 N‑COUNT A microwave or a microwave oven is an oven which cooks food very quickly by electromagnetic radiation rather than by heat.
2 VERB To microwave food or drink means to cook or heat it in a microwave oven. □ [V n] Steam or microwave the vegetables until tender.
micro|wave|able /ma I kroʊwe I vəb ə l/ also microwavable ADJ Microwaveable food can be cooked in a microwave.
PREFIX mid-
forms nouns and adjectives that refer to the middle part of a particular period of time, or the middle part of a particular place. For example, mid-June is the middle of June.