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Micr- is a combining form used like a prefix meaning “small.” In units of measurement, micro- means “one millionth.” The form micr- is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms.

Micr- comes from Greek ��ī���ó��, meaning “small.” The Latin equivalent of ��ī���ó�� is parvus, also meaning “small,” which is the source of terms such as parvovirus, a type of virus with a name that literally means “small poison.” To learn more, check out our entry for parvovirus.

What are variants of micr-?

Micr- is a variant of micro-, which loses its –o– when combined with words or word elements beginning with vowels. Want to know more? Read our �������t¶��s That Use article about micro-.

An example of a term that features the form micr- is micrencephaly, “the condition of having an abnormally small brain.”

As we have already seen, the micr- part of the word means “small.” The -encephaly part of the word means “having a head,” from Greek kephalḗ. Micrencephaly literally translates to “having a small head.”

What are some words that use the combining form micr-?

• micracoustic
• micrify
• microbe (using the equivalent form of micr- in French)
• micronychia
• microtia

What are some other forms that micro- may be commonly confused with?

• macr-
• macro-

The suffix -ify means “to make” or “cause to be.” With this in mind, what does micrify literally mean?