microcosm

[ mahy-kruh-koz-uhm ]

noun

1. a little world; a world in miniature ( macrocosm ):

   The human body is a microcosm.

2. anything regarded as a representative, miniature version of a larger complex reality:

   The fictional small town of Black Rock, California, serves as a microcosm of America in the postwar era.

3. Environmental Science. a controlled experimental environment or ecosystem small enough to be housed in a laboratory and reproducing conditions that occur on a larger scale in the outdoors: Compare mesocosm ( def ).

   Researchers have investigated the survival of this bacteria in saline solutions and seawater in laboratory microcosms.

4. human beings, humanity, society, or the like, viewed as an epitome or miniature of the world or universe:

   In the human microcosm, intellect is the deep spiritual center of being.

microcosm

/ ˈmaɪkrəʊˌkɒzəm; ˌmaɪkrəʊˈkɒzmɒs /

noun

1. a miniature representation of something, esp a unit, group, or place regarded as a copy of a larger one
2. man regarded as epitomizing the universe

microcosm

1. A representation of something on a much smaller scale. Microcosm means “small world,” and in the thought of the Renaissance , it was applied specifically to human beings, who were considered to be small-scale models of the universe, with all its variety and contradiction. ( Compare macrocosm .)

Derived Forms

• ˌmicroˈcosmic, adjective

Other Words From

• mi·cro·cos·mic [mahy-kr, uh, -, koz, -mik], mi·cro·cos·mi·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of microcosm¹

First recorded in 1150–1200; micro- ( def ) + -cosm ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of microcosm¹

C15: via Medieval Latin from Greek mikros kosmos little world

Example Sentences

“It’s a life-changing moment when you catch sight of the ISS there in the eternity of the universe - seeing this little bubble of life, a microcosm of human creativity in the blackness,” he says.

From BBC

In the back row, Ben Earl's energy kept opposite number Ardie Savea from shining too brightly in the summer - their personal battle could be the match in microcosm.

From BBC

It’s a microcosm of the world and its vices, and not only because the sounds of several languages permeate the steamy premises.

From Los Angeles Times

The unwilling eavesdropping was a microcosm of the whole weekend.

From Salon

You could say that Sunday's game was a microcosm of Williams' rookie season.

From BBC

Related Words

• earth
• nature