macroscopic

adjective

mac·​ro·​scop·​ic ˌma-krə-ˈskä-pik How to pronounce macroscopic (audio)
1
: observable by the naked eye
2
: involving large units or elements
macroscopically adverb

Examples of macroscopic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Still, there remains disagreement among researchers about whether macroscopic, agent-level causation can emerge in complex systems. Philip Ball, WIRED, 21 July 2024 Starting around the turn of the 20th century, physicists began to understand that the behaviors of the tiniest bits of our world couldn’t be explained by the laws of classical physics—the type that governs macroscopic solids, gases, liquids, and the forces that act on them. Shayla Love, The Atlantic, 11 Oct. 2024 In both cases, extracting the macroscopic behavior of a system from a microscopic description is difficult. Quanta Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024 From a macroscopic perspective, the idea of double-checking at run time across a chain-of-thought is not the only gambit available for AI safety purposes. Consider this larger picture framework of real-time checks and balances: (1) Prompt Stage. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for macroscopic 

Word History

Etymology

macro- + -scopic (in microscopic)

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of macroscopic was in 1872

Dictionary Entries Near macroscopic

Cite this Entry

“Macroscopic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/macroscopic. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

macroscopic

adjective
mac·​ro·​scop·​ic ˌmak-rə-ˈskäp-ik How to pronounce macroscopic (audio)
: large enough to be observed by the naked eye
macroscopic animals

Medical Definition

macroscopic

adjective
mac·​ro·​scop·​ic ˌmak-rə-ˈskäp-ik How to pronounce macroscopic (audio)
: large enough to be observed by the naked eye compare microscopic sense 2, submicroscopic, ultramicroscopic sense 1
macroscopically adverb
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