# micro

/ˈmaɪˌkɹoʊ/ (US) · /mˈaɪkɹəʊ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/micro
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. very small

adjective · CEFR B2

very small in size or scale.

For teachers: extremely small in scale, scope, or capability.

- The company focuses on micro apartments for people living alone in the city.
- The startup specialises in micro-sensors designed to monitor soil moisture levels in real-time across vast agricultural landscapes.

### 2. microwave oven

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a common short name for a microwave oven.

For teachers: a colloquial clipping of microwave oven.

- Just put the soup in the micro for two minutes to warm it up.
- The office kitchen was equipped with a basic micro and a kettle, which was sufficient for the staff's modest lunch requirements.

### 3. microeconomics

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic · Informal

the study of how individuals and small companies make financial decisions.

For teachers: a clipping of microeconomics, referring to the branch of economics that studies the behaviour of individuals and firms.

- I found the micro exam much harder than the macro one.
- Students often struggle with the abstract mathematical models presented in introductory micro before they see their practical applications in market analysis.

### 4. micromanagement

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

when a boss tries to control every small part of your work.

For teachers: a clipping of micromanagement, referring to a management style with excessive control over minor details.

- I quit my last job because I couldn't stand the constant micro from my supervisor.
- The team's productivity plummeted due to the manager's incessant micro, which left no room for individual initiative or creative problem-solving.

### 5. to micromanage

verb · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

to control every small detail of a person's work or a game's units.

For teachers: to micromanage; in gaming, to control individual units with high precision. Ambitransitive.

- You need to micro your troops better if you want to win this battle.
- Professional players are known for their ability to micro multiple units simultaneously while maintaining a high-level strategic overview of the match.

## Examples

- The company focuses on micro investments for small businesses.
- The influencer posted a micro blog update to share her thoughts on the new movie.
- Economists often analyze micro trends within specific neighborhoods to predict how larger urban developments might affect local housing prices over the next decade.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.