microenvironment

noun

mi·​cro·​en·​vi·​ron·​ment ˌmī-krō-in-ˈvī-rən-mənt 

-ˈvī(-ə)rn-

: a small or relatively small usually distinctly specialized and effectively isolated habitat (such as a forest canopy) or environment (as of a neuron)

microenvironmental

ˌmī-krō-in-ˌvī-rən-ˈmen-tᵊl 

adjective

Examples of microenvironment in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Studying the microenvironment – the local conditions surrounding the body, including temperature, humidity and microbial activity – can reveal crucial information about the decomposition process. —Discover Magazine, 12 Sep. 2024

Armed with this knowledge, today’s cancer researchers and oncologists are turning their attention toward precision medicine, which involves treatments tailored to an individual’s genetics and lifestyle, as well as the cellular and molecular characteristics of the tumor and its microenvironment. —Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 10 Aug. 2024

The cells either sequester or export nitric oxide, depending on oxygen traffic between them and tissue in the microenvironment. —Byandrew Zaleski, science.org, 3 July 2024

When tumor cells switch to glycolic respiration, a byproduct makes the tumor microenvironment acidic. —David Robert Grimes, Scientific American, 1 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1931, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

microenvironment

noun

mi·​cro·​en·​vi·​ron·​ment -in-ˈvī-rən-mənt, -ˈvī(-ə)rn- 

: a small or relatively small usually distinctly specialized and effectively isolated habitat or environment (as of a nerve cell) see microhabitat

microenvironmental

-ˌvī-rən-ˈment-ᵊl 

adjective