microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskä-pik 
variants
or less commonly microscopical
1
: resembling a microscope especially in perception
2
a
: invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope
b
: very small or fine or precise
3
: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
Examples of microscopic in a Sentence
At this point, the embryo is a microscopic clump of only 100 cells.
There is a microscopic crack in the diamond.
He has a microscopic attention span.
He recorded every aspect of his trip in microscopic detail.
a microscopic study of plant tissues
Recent Examples on the Web
Freezing and thawing means moisture seeps into microscopic pores on roadway surfaces.
—
Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
This has been very tricky because quantum mechanics focuses on the unpredictable nature of particles at microscopic scales, whereas general relativity explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2025
Think of activated charcoal as a microscopic sponge that can help absorb unwanted oil, odor, and other contaminants.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Researchers have compared this survival strategy to that of tardigrades, microscopic creatures famous for enduring the vacuum of space.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for microscopic
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Isaac Avilucea, Axios, 10 Mar. 2025
This has been very tricky because quantum mechanics focuses on the unpredictable nature of particles at microscopic scales, whereas general relativity explains gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by massive objects.
—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 8 Mar. 2025
Think of activated charcoal as a microscopic sponge that can help absorb unwanted oil, odor, and other contaminants.
—Sophie Flaxman, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Mar. 2025
Researchers have compared this survival strategy to that of tardigrades, microscopic creatures famous for enduring the vacuum of space.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for microscopic
Cite this Entry
“Microscopic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/microscopic. Accessed 19 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik
variants
also microscopical
1
: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
a microscopic examination
2
: resembling a microscope : able to see very tiny objects
some insects have microscopic vision
3
: able to be seen only through a microscope : very small
a microscopic plant
Medical Definition
microscopic
adjective
mi·cro·scop·ic
ˌmī-krə-ˈskäp-ik
variants
or microscopical
1
: of, relating to, or conducted with the microscope or microscopy
2
: so small or fine as to be invisible or indistinguishable without the use of a microscope compare macroscopic, submicroscopic, ultramicroscopic sense 1
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