microstructure

M3I1C3R1O1S1T1R1U1C3T1U1R1E1

noun

The fine structure of a material or tissue as revealed by microscopy.

Opposite
macrostructure
OriginEnglish structure ← Ancient Greek μῑκρο- (mīkro-) ← Proto-Indo-European *mey-der.? →
Less commonScrabble 20
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Meanings

nounmicrostructure (countable and uncountable, plural microstructures)

plural microstructures

  1. Fine-scale structure.
    1. countableuncountableThe fine structure of a material or tissue as revealed by microscopy.
    2. countableuncountableengineeringThe fine structure of a pure metal or alloy, as revealed by magnifications of 25X or greater.
    3. countableuncountableclimatologyFine-scale structure in such variables as temperature, salinity, velocity, etc.

Synonyms & antonyms

antonym(s) of “fine structure”

Opposite
macrostructure

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*mey-der.?
  2. Ancient Greekμῑκρός (mīkrós)
  3. Ancient Greekμῑκρο- (mīkro-)
  4. Englishmicro-
  5. Englishstructure
  6. Englishmicrostructure

From micro- + structure.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

microstructure. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microstructure

MLA

“microstructure.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microstructure. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “microstructure,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/microstructure.

Source: microstructure on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.