macro-

1.
a combining form meaning “large,” “long,” “great,” “excessive,” used in the formation of compound words, contrasting with micro-: macrocosm; macrofossil; macrograph; macroscopic.
Also, especially before a vowel, macr-.
Origin
< Greek makro-, combining form of makrós long; cognate with Latin macer lean; see meager
Can be confused
macro-, micro-.
British Dictionary definitions for macro-

macro-

combining form
1.
large, long, or great in size or duration: macroscopic
2.
(in pathology) indicating abnormal enlargement or overdevelopment: macrocyte Compare micro- (sense 5)
3.
producing larger than life images: macrophotography
Word Origin
from Greek makros large; compare Latin macermeagre
Word Origin and History for macro-

word-forming element meaning "long, abnormally large, on a large scale," taken into English via Middle French and Medieval Latin from Greek makros "long, large," from PIE root *mak- "long, thin" (cf. Latin macer "lean, thin;" Old Norse magr, Old English mæger "lean, thin;" Greek mekos "length").

macro- in Medicine

macro- or macr-
pref.

  1. Large: macronucleus.

  2. Long: macrobiotic.

  3. Inclusive: macroamylase.

macro- in Science
macro-  
A prefix meaning "large," as in macromolecule, a large molecule.
macro- in Technology


Prefix large. Opposite of micro-. In the mainstream and among other technical cultures (for example, medical people) this competes with the prefix mega-, but hackers tend to restrict the latter to quantification.
[Jargon File]