micro
gb/mˈaɪkɹoʊ/ us/mˈaɪkɹoʊ/
B1
English
~ 3500
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B1
property
1
Extremely small in size
Very, very small.
Usage pattern:
[something] is micro
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'micro' with 'mini', but 'micro' usually means extremely small, often in scientific or technical contexts, while 'mini' can mean just smaller than usual.
Synonyms
miniature (Often used for small versions of something, sometimes with a cute or collectible connotation.)
|
tiny (Very small in general, less technical than 'micro'.)
Antonyms
macro (Describes something on a large scale, often used as the opposite in technical contexts.)
|
large (General term for something big in size.)
Collocations
micro apartment
|micro business
|micro organism
|micro scale
|micro brewery
Themes
measurement
|technology
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The company offers micro apartments in the city center.
- She used a microscope to examine the micro particles.
- This micro brewery specializes in craft beers.
- They invested in several micro businesses.
- The artwork was painted on a micro scale.
Learner examples
- The phone has a micro camera.
- I live in a micro flat.
- The bug is micro and hard to see.
- This toy car is micro.
- We saw a micro fish in the pond.
Noun
technical
B2
relation
2
Metric prefix meaning one millionth
A short way to say one millionth in the metric system.
Common mistake:
Some learners confuse 'micro' with 'milli', but 'milli' means one thousandth, not one millionth.
Synonyms
μ (mu) (The Greek letter used as the symbol for 'micro' in SI units.)
Antonyms
mega (Metric prefix meaning one million times the unit.)
Collocations
micro second
|micro meter
|micro gram
Themes
measurement
|science
Examples
- A microsecond is one millionth of a second.
- The sensor can detect changes as small as a micrometer.
- This dose is measured in micrograms.
Learner examples
- One microsecond is very short.
- A micrometer is very small.
- We measure weight in micrograms.
Noun
informal
B1
entity
3
Short form for microphone
A short word for microphone, used to record or make voices louder.
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that 'micro' as microphone is informal and less common than 'mic'.
Synonyms
mic ('Mic' is the more common spelling for the abbreviation of microphone.)
Collocations
wireless micro
|clip-on micro
|handheld micro
Themes
music
|technology
|media
|communication
Examples
- Please speak directly into the micro.
- The singer adjusted her micro before starting the song.
- He clipped the micro to his shirt for the interview.
Learner examples
- I need a micro for my speech.
- The singer holds the micro.
- He talks into the micro.
Grammar
Dictionary form
micro
IPA
GB/mˈaɪkɹoʊ/
US/mˈaɪkɹoʊ/
Syllables & stress
mi - cro (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mi)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: micro
- Comparative: microer
- Superlative: microest
Noun
- Base: micro
- Plural: micros
Word family
Forms
micros
noun
microer
adjective
microest
adjective
Core family
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
macro
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
microbiology
noun
microscopy
noun C1
Expressions
micro aggression
1/mˈaɪkɹoʊ əɡɹˈɛʃən/
fixed phrase
Small act of discrimination or insult
A small action or comment that shows prejudice toward someone, often without the speaker knowing it.
Examples
- He didn't realize his comment was a micro aggression.
- Micro aggressions can build up and cause stress over time.
micro influencer
1/mˈaɪkɹoʊ ɪnflˈunsɚ/
fixed phrase
Small-scale social media influencer
A person on social media who has a small number of followers but many of them are very interested in what they post.
Examples
- Brands often work with micro influencers to reach niche audiences.
- She became a micro influencer by sharing vegan recipes online.
micro manage
1/mˈaɪkɹoʊ mˈænɪd͡ʒ/
fixed phrase
Control every small detail of work
To control someone's work too much by watching every small thing they do.
Examples
- The boss tends to micromanage his team, which slows down productivity.
- She doesn't like to micromanage; she trusts her employees.