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macro

/ˈmækroʊ/
/ˈmʌkrəʊ/
IPA guide

Other forms: macros

Anything macro is enlarged or on a very large scale. A macro perspective on life is one that stands back and takes in the entirety of experience, rather than examining smaller details up close.

While two political parties might argue over specifics, a political analyst might claim that on a macro (or large-scale) level, their policies and positions are essentially the same. A macro lens for a camera, however, does examine small details, but does it by blowing them up into something large. With a macro lens, you can photograph a butterfly or a flower and capture every last tiny element on film. Macro has a Greek root, makros, "long or large."

Definitions of macro
  1. adjective
    very large in scale or scope or capability
    synonyms:
    big, large
    above average in size or number or quantity or magnitude or extent
  2. noun
    a single computer instruction that results in a series of instructions in machine language
    synonyms: macro instruction
    see moresee less
    type of:
    command, instruction, program line, statement
    (computer science) a line of code written as part of a computer program
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