micro
mi·cro/ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊ/adjective, noun, verb
micro is spelled M-I-C-R-O: 5 letters and 2 syllables (mi·cro). It appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,230th most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As an adjective, micro means “Very small in scale or scope” (English Wiktionary, September 2026).
How many letters and syllables are in micro?
| Letters | 5: M-I-C-R-O |
|---|---|
| Syllables | 2: mi·cro |
| In writing | 12 times per million words; the 6,230th most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is micro?
Micro appears 12 times per million words in written English, the 6,230th most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce micro?
- UK /ˈmaɪ.kɹəʊ/
- US /ˈmaɪ.kɹoʊ/
Micro has 2 syllables, split mi·cro in writing.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: LL-Q1860_(eng)-Vealhurl-micro.wav, En-us-micro-.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of micro
- more micro comparative
- most micro superlative
- micros plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- microes plural, present, singular, he/she/it
- microing participle, present
- micro'ing participle, present
- microed participle, past
- microd participle, past
- micro'ed participle, past
- micro'd participle, past
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does micro mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
adjective
- 1
Very small in scale or scope.
At the micro level, he was a good manager. At the macro level, he failed.
noun
- 1
colloquialClipping of microwave (“microwave oven”).
Just put it in the micro for 30 seconds and it's ready to eat.
- 2
colloquialClipping of microeconomics.
- 3
datedClipping of microcomputer.
- 4
slangClipping of micromanagement.
- 5
colloquialClipping of microphile.
- 6
colloquialClipping of microphilia.
- 7
colloquialIn the context of microphilia, one who is abnormally very small.
verb
- 1
slangClipping of micromanage.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Micro in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does micro come from?
From micro-, typically as shortened forms for modern words formed with the prefix, ultimately from Ancient Greek μικρός (mikrós, “small”).
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).