macrocosm

[ mak-ruh-koz-uh m ]
/ ˈmæk rəˌkɒz əm /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR macrocosm ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the great world or universe; the universe considered as a whole (opposed to microcosm).
the total or entire complex structure of something: the macrocosm of war.
a representation of a smaller unit or entity by a larger one, presumably of a similar structure.

Origin of macrocosm

1590–1600; < French macrocosme < Medieval Latin macrocosmus. See macro-, cosmos

OTHER WORDS FROM macrocosm

mac·ro·cos·mic, adjective mac·ro·cos·mi·cal·ly, adverb

Words nearby macrocosm

macroclimate, macroclimatology, macrocode, macrocolon, macrocornea, macrocosm, macrocranium, macrocryoglobulinemia, macrocyclic, macrocyst, macrocyte

Words related to macrocosm

cosmos, whole, totality, nature, universe, world

Example sentences from the Web for macrocosm

British Dictionary definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm
/ (ˈmækrəˌkɒzəm) /

noun

a complex structure, such as the universe or society, regarded as an entirety, as opposed to microcosms, which have a similar structure and are contained within it
any complex entity regarded as a complete system in itself
Compare microcosm

Derived forms of macrocosm

macrocosmic, adjective macrocosmically, adverb

Word Origin for macrocosm

C16: via French and Latin from Greek makros kosmos great world

Cultural definitions for macrocosm

macrocosm

A representation of something on a much larger scale. (Compare microcosm.)