macroscopic

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˌmækrəˈskɑpɪk/ UK /ˌmækrəˈskɒpɪk/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
large enough to be seen by the naked eye; large-scale

At the macroscopic level the material appears perfectly smooth.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · large enough to be seen by... large-scale visible gross sizable

Opposites

microscopic minute submicroscopic tiny

Word family

Derived forms macroscopically

Related forms macro microscopicmacrocosm

Etymology

From Greek makros ('large, long') + -scopic (from skopein, 'to look at, examine'), modeled on microscopic.

makros Ancient Greek skopein Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# macroscopic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˌmækrəˈskɑpɪk/
**IPA (UK):** /ˌmækrəˈskɒpɪk/

## Meanings
1. large enough to be seen by the naked eye; large-scale

## Examples
- At the macroscopic level the material appears perfectly smooth.

## Synonyms
- large-scale
- visible
- gross
- sizable

## Antonyms
- microscopic
- minute
- submicroscopic
- tiny

## Derived Forms
- macroscopically

## Related Forms
- macro
- microscopic
- macrocosm

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: makros
- Root: skopein

## Etymology
From Greek makros ('large, long') + -scopic (from skopein, 'to look at, examine'), modeled on microscopic.

## AI Etymology
Macroscopic comes from Greek makros ('large, long') + -scopic (from skopein, 'to look at, examine'), modeled on microscopic. The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "large enough to be seen by the naked eye; large-scale", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Ancient Greek makros and Ancient Greek skopein. Derivative forms include macroscopically; related words include macro, microscopic, macrocosm.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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