macro

¹

[ mak-roh ]

adjective

1. very large in scale, scope, or capability.
2. of or relating to macroeconomics.

noun

, plural mac·ros.

1. anything very large in scale, scope, or capability.
2. Photography. a macro lens.
3. Also called macroinstruction. Computers. an instruction that represents a sequence of instructions in abbreviated form.
4. macroeconomics.

macro-

²

1. a combining form meaning “large,” “long,” “great,” “excessive,” used in the formation of compound words, contrasting with micro-: macrocosm; macrofossil; macrograph; macroscopic.

macro

¹

/ ˈmækrəʊ /

noun

1. a macro lens
2. Alsomacro instruction a single computer instruction that initiates a set of instructions to perform a specific task

macro-

²

combining_form

1. large, long, or great in size or duration

   macroscopic

2. See micro-
   (in pathology) indicating abnormal enlargement or overdevelopment Compare micro-

   macrocyte

3. producing larger than life images

   macrophotography

macro–

1. A prefix meaning “large,” as in macromolecule, a large molecule.

Word History and Origins

Origin of macro¹

Independent use of macro-, taken as an adjective, or by shortening of words with macro- as initial element

Origin of macro²

< Greek makro-, combining form of makrós long; cognate with Latin macer lean; meager

Word History and Origins

Origin of macro¹

from Greek makros large; compare Latin macer meagre

Example Sentences

On another, more macro level, did you find Europe to be such a cesspool of intrigue?

From The Daily Beast

Greason started out at Intel but felt the zero-gravity pull of the rocket macro-process in which he now holds 22 patents.

From The Daily Beast

Yep, organic rice syrup—i.e., sugar—is still its main ingredient, no matter how macro its biotics may be.

From The Daily Beast

All the macro statistics bear that out (percentage of people employed, real wages, percentage of GDP going to labor, etc.).

From The Daily Beast

We experience power every day, in a million different ways, in our own lives, from the micro to the macro.

From The Daily Beast

But for all this Charicles satisfied Macro, "that the flame of life was expiring, and could not outlast two days."

From Project Gutenberg

The sombre pines of California and the macro carpa cypress cover thousands of acres.

From Project Gutenberg

With a few exceptions this work only treats of what are, for the sake of convenience, termed the Macro-Lepidoptera.

From Project Gutenberg

He was succeeded in his power by Sertorius Macro, who had aided in his destruction.

From Project Gutenberg

Macro's correspondence with literary men and artists forms the additional MSS.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• broad
• extensive
• large
• large-scale

Words That Use macro-

What does macro- mean?

Macro– is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “large; long; great; excessive.” It is often used in scientific terms, especially in biology.

Macro– comes from Greek makrós, meaning “long.” The Latin translation of makrós is longus, also meaning “long,” which is the source of terms such as longanimity and longitude. To learn more, check out our entries for both words.

What are variants of macro-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, macro– becomes macr–, as in macrencephaly. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article about macr-.

Examples of macro-

A scientific term that features the form macro– is macrocyte, “an abnormally large red blood cell.”

The macro– part of the word macrocyte means “large,” as we have seen. The –cyte part of the word means “cell,” from Greek kýtos. Macrocyte literally translates to “large cell.”

What are some words that use the combining form macro-?

• macroblast
• macrocosm (using the equivalent form of macro– in French)
• macrodactyly
• macroform
• macrolith
• macrophyll
• macrospore

What are some other forms that macro– may be commonly confused with?

• megalo-
• micr-
• micro-

Break it down!

The combining form –phyll means “leaf.” With this in mind, what does macrophyll literally mean?