adjective
microscopic
meye-kruh-SKOP-ihk
adjective
1
So small it can only be seen using a microscope.
"A microscopic parasite was found in the water sample."
2
Extremely small in general; tiny.
"There was only a microscopic chance of the plan succeeding."
How to Use Microscopic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething incredibly tiny — either literally invisible without a microscope, or just figuratively very small.
Common pairings
microscopic chance
microscopic detail
microscopic organism
Word Forms
more microscopic comparative, most microscopic superlative
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A _____ parasite was found in the water sample.
Etymology
Formed from "microscope" plus the adjective-forming suffix "-ic."