Word
macroscopic
Phoneticsmacro·scop·ic
UK/mˌækɹəskˈɒpɪk/
Definition
adj. big enough to see with your eyes alone, without a microscope. You use it for objects and changes you can observe directly.
adj. visible to the naked eye or occurring on a scale large enough to be observed without magnification. Frequently contrasted with microscopic in physics and materials science.
Examples
“The crack is macroscopic and easy to see.”
“The lab compares macroscopic changes in the metal with microscopic images of its surface.”
“While quantum effects dominate at atomic scales, macroscopic objects follow classical physics in everyday life.”
Examples
simple
“The crack is macroscopic and easy to see.”
contextual
“The lab compares macroscopic changes in the metal with microscopic images of its surface.”
complex
“While quantum effects dominate at atomic scales, macroscopic objects follow classical physics in everyday life.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “macroscopic” in context.
Verb
01. appear macroscopic
“At low magnification, the fibres already appear macroscopic.”
verb + adj
02. become macroscopic
“As the crystal grows, the defects become macroscopic.”
verb + adj
Adjective
03. macroscopic change
“The drug produced no macroscopic change detectable by eye.”
adj + noun
04. macroscopic property
“Colour is a macroscopic property linked to atomic structure.”
adj + noun
05. macroscopic scale
“Friction dominates when two surfaces interact on a macroscopic scale.”
adj + noun
06. macroscopic world
“Classical mechanics accurately describes motion in the macroscopic world.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. at macroscopic level
“The fracture was first assessed at macroscopic level before microscopy.”
prep + adj + noun
08. macroscopic in size
“The fossil is macroscopic in size and visible without equipment.”
adj + prep + noun
09. at the macroscopic level
“At the macroscopic level, the material appears smooth and uniform.”
10. from macroscopic to microscopic
“The module progresses from macroscopic to microscopic anatomy.”
11. in the macroscopic world
“In the macroscopic world, gravity dominates everyday motion.”
12. on a macroscopic scale
“Quantum fluctuations have little impact on a macroscopic scale.”
Real-World Examples
“Maxwell's demon is an imagined microscopic gatekeeper that exploits information at the microscopic scale to produce macroscopic work.” Etymology
From macro- + -scopic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/macroscopic