microcosm

mi·cro·cosm  (mkr-kzm)

n.

A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development: "He sees the auto industry as a microcosm of the U.S. itself" (William J. Hampton).

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[Middle English microcosme, man as a little world, from Old French, from Late Latin mcrocosmus, from Greek mkros kosmos : mkros, small + kosmos, world, order.]

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micro·cosmic (-kzmk), micro·cosmi·cal (-m-kl) adj.

micro·cosmi·cal·ly adv.

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microcosm [ˈmaɪkrəʊˌkɒzəm], microcosmos [ˌmaɪkrəʊˈkɒzmɒs]

n

1. a miniature representation of something, esp a unit, group, or place regarded as a copy of a larger one

2. (Philosophy) man regarded as epitomizing the universe Compare macrocosm

[via Medieval Latin from Greek mikros kosmos little world]

microcosmic , microcosmical adj

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

microcosm - a miniature model of something       example, model - a representative form or pattern; "I profited from his example"

Translations

microcosm [ˈmaɪkrəʊkɒzəm] N → microcosmo m

microcosm [ˈmaɪkrəʊkɒzəm] n → microcosme m

microcosm [ˈmaɪkrəʊˌkɒz/əm] n → microcosmo