Micrococcus prodigiosus. 
micro- 
in lithoL, indicating that the structure desig- 
nated is microscopic in character, or that it is 
so minutely developed as not to be recognized 
without the help of the microscope, e. g. micro- 
granitic, micropegmatitic, microgranulitic. See 
these words. 
micro-audiphone (ml-kro-a'di-fon), n. [< Gr. 
lunpof, small, + E. audiphone.] An instrument for 
reinforcing or augmenting very feeble sounds 
so as to render them audible. 
Microbacterium (mi"kro-bak-te'ri-um), n. 
[NL., < Gr. uiKpof, small,'-!- ftaKrijpiov, a little 
stick: see bacterium.'] In some systems of 
classification, a tribe or division of Schizomy- 
cetes, containing the single genus Bacterium, 
and characterized by having elliptical or short 
cylindrical cells. 
microbal (mi'kro-bal), a. Same as mierobial. 
But now we have antisepsis of the track and careful cov- 
ering of the wound to guard against microbal invasion. 
Medical News, LI I. 606. 
microbe (mi'krob), . [< F. microbe (C. Sedil- 
lot, 1878) (NL. mi- 
crobion), intended to 
mean ' a small liv- 
ing being,' but ac- 
cording to the for- 
mation 'short-lived' 
(cf. Gr. /wcp63a>f, 
short-lived), < Gr. /u- 
Kpof, small, little, + 
/3/of, life.] A minute 
living being not dis- 
tinguished, primari- 
ly, as to its animal 
or vegetable nature. 
The term is roost frequently applied to various micro- 
scopic plants or their spores (particularly Sehizomycetes), 
and further has come to 
be almost synonymous 
with bacterium. Taken in 
this latter sense, microbes 
are regarded as essential- 
ly polymorphous organ- 
isms, adapting them- 
selves to varied condi- 
tions of existence, which 
in turn influence the form 
taken by them. For this 
reason their classification 
has often varied, since 
their distinction intogen- 
era and species does not 
yet rest on precise data. 
Micrococcus of Chicken Cholera. Micrococcus, Spirochcete, 
Bacillus, Leptothrix, Bac- 
terium, Vibrio, Spirillum, and Mywnofftoc are the genera or 
form-genera under which most of the forms are known. 
They are instrumental in 
the production of fermen- 
tation, decay, and many 
of the infectious diseases 
affecting man and the 
lower animals. 
micrqbia, n. Plural 
of microbion. 
mierobial (mi-kro'bi- 
al), a. [< microbe 
(microbion) + -al.~\ 
Of or pertaining to 
microbes ; caused by 
or due to microbes. 
Also microbal. Leptothrix parasitica. 
There is a considerable difference found in the miero- 
bial richness of the air in different places in the country. 
Nineteenth Century, XXII. 244. 
microbian (mi-kro'bi-an), a. [(microbe (micro- 
bion) + -an.] Mierobial. 
His definition of pellagra is therefore this : " a micrMan 
malady, due to a poisoning produced by a pathogenic ba- 
cillus." Lancet, No. 8449, p. 707. 
microbic (ml-kro'bik), a. [< microbe + -ic.] Mi- 
erobial. 
The theory of the microbic causation of the disorder. 
Medical News, III. 876. 
microbicide (ml-kro'bi-sid), n. [< NL. micro- 
bion, microbe, + L. -cida, a killer, < asdere, 
kill.] A substance that kills microbes. 
Sulphur is well known as a powerful microbicide long 
recommended in pulmonary diseases. 
Medical Newt, L. 366. 
microbiological (mi-kro-bl-o-loj'i-kal), a. [< 
microbiolog-y + -ic-al.] Of or pertaining to 
microbiology: as, microbiological research. 
Microbiological study of the lochia. 
Medical News, XLVIII. 147. 
microbiologist (mi'kro-bi-oro-jist), n. [< mi- 
crobiolog-y + -ist.] One who studies or is skilled 
in microbiology; one versed in the knowledge 
of minute organisms, as microbes. 
Ideas which are just now very prominent in the minds 
of microbiolosrists. Science, V. 73. 
3748 
microbiology (mi"kro-bi-pro-ji), . [< NL. 
microbion, microbe, + Gr. -/.oyz, < ?^}m j , speak: 
see -ology.] The science of micro-organisms; 
the study of microbes. 
There was great reason for creating in the Faculty of 
Sciences the chair of microbiology. 
Pop. Set. Mo., XXXIII. 341. 
microbion (mi-kro'bi-ou), n. ; pi. microbia (-a). 
[NL.: see microbe.] Same as microbe. 
These [reports] ... by no means demonstrate that the 
active principle of cholera resides in a microbion, or that 
the particular microbion has been discovered. 
Science, IV. 145. 
microcaltrops (mi-kro-kal'trops), i. [< Gr. 
/M/tpof, small, T E. caltrop.] A sponge-spic- 
ule of minute size, having the form of a cal- 
trop. AXsomicrocalthrops. W. ./. Sollas, Encyc. 
Brit., XXII. 417. 
Microcamerae (mi-kro-kam'e-re), n. pi. [NL., 
< Gr. /uicpof, small, + L. camera, chamber: see 
chamber.] 1. Asubtribeof choristidan sponges 
having the chambers small : opposed to Macro- 
camera. Lendenfeld, 1886. 2. A tribe of cera- 
tose sponges with small spherical ciliated cham- 
bers and opaque ground-substance. Lenden- 
feld. 
microcamerate (mi-kro-kam'e-rat), a. [< Gr. 
/MKpoc, small, + L. camera, chamber: see cham- 
ber.] Having small chambers ; specifically, of 
or pertaining to the Microcamera 1 , in either 
sense. 
Micrpcebus (mi-kro-se'bus), ti. [NL., < Gr. 
/UKp6(, small, + Ki/3of, a long-tailed monkey : see 
Cebus.] A genus of small prosimian quadru- 
peds of the family Lemurida; and subfamily 
Galagimno!, containing such species as the pyg- 
my lemur, M. smithi, and the mouse-lemur. M. 
murinus; the dwarf lemurs. 
Microcentri (ml-kro-sen'tri), w. pi. [NL. 
(Thomson, 1876), < G'r. fuxpof, small, + nevrpov, 
point, spur: see center 1 .] One of two prime 
sections of the parasitic hymenopterous family 
Chalcididas, containing the seven subfamilies 
which have the tarsi three- or four-jointed 
(usually four-jointed, rarely heteromerous), 
anterior tibise with a slender short straight 
spur, and antennae usually few-jointed. They 
are nearly all of small size. 
Microcephala (mi-kro-sef'a-la), n. pi. [NL., 
neut. pi. of microceplialtis, < Gr. pupoxlfaAof, 
small -headed : see microcephalous.] In La- 
treille's system, the fifth section of brachely- 
trous pentamerous Coleoptera. They have no evi- 
dent neck, the head being received in the thorax as far as 
the eyes ; the thorax is trapeziform, widening from before 
backward ; the body is comparatively little elongated ; the 
mandibles are of moderate size ; and the elytrum often 
covers more than half of the abdomen. The species live 
on flowers, fungi, and dung. Also Microcephali. 
microcephalia (mi''kro-se-fa'li-a), n. [NL., < 
Gr. fiiKpoK(fa.'/.of, small-headed: see microceph- 
alous.] Same as microcephaly. 
microcephalic (ml"kro-se-farik or -sef'a-lik), 
a. [Asmicrocephal-ous + -ic.] Having an unu- 
sually small cranium. Specifically - (a) In craniom. , 
having a cranium smaller than a certain standard. A ca- 
pacity of 1,850 cubic centimeters is taken by some as the 
upper limit of microcephaly, (b) In pathol., having a head 
small through disease or faulty development, producing 
idiocy more or less extreme. 
microcephalism (mi-kro-sef 'a-lizm), . [< '- 
crocephaly + -ism.] A microcephalic condi- 
tion. 
microcephalous (mi-kro-sef'a-lus), o. [= P. 
microcephale = Pg. microceplialo, < NL. micro- 
eephalus, < Gr. /w/cpo/tf^aAof, small-headed, < 
ump6(, small, + K0a/,#, head.] Having a small 
head. Specifically (a) Having the skull small or im- 
perfectly developed, (o) In zool., of or pertaining to the 
Microcephala. 
Microcephalus (mi-kro-sef'a-lus), n. [NL., < 
Gr. pwpontyoJkef, small-headed: see microceph- 
alous.] 1. In entom.: (a) A South American 
genus of caraboid beetles, with about 6 spe- 
cies, having securiform terminal joints of both 
maxillary and labial palpi. (6) A genus of 
nemocerous dipterous insects of the family 
Chironomidte. Van der Wulp, 1873. 2. A genus 
of reptiles. Lesson. 3. [_l. c.] In pathol.: (a) 
A microcephalic person. (6) Microcephaly. 
4. [I. c.] In teratol., a monster with a small, 
imperfect head or cranium. 
microcephaly (mi-kro-sef a-li), . [< NL. mi- 
crocephalia, q. v.] The condition or character 
presented by a small or imperfectly developed 
head. 
Microchaeta (mi-kro-ke'tii), . [NL., < Gr. /- 
Kp6f, small, + xaiTt},& maiie: see clxeta.] A ge- 
nus of earthworms. M. rappi is a gigantic South 
African earthworm, four or five feet long, of greenish and 
reddish coloration. Beddard, 1886. 
Micrococcus 
microcharacter (mi-kro-kar'ak-ter), n. [< Gr. 
/unp6f, small, + x a P aKT *IP, character: see char- 
acter.] Any zoological character derived from 
microscopic or other minute examination. 
microchemical (ml-kro-kem'i-kal), a. [< Gr. 
/nwp6f l small, minute, + E. chemical.] Of or 
pertaining to microchemistry: as, microchemi- 
cal reactions; microchemical experiments: dis- 
tinguished from macrochemical. 
Microchemical examination shows that it performs a 
complex function. 
Huxley and Martin, Elementary Biology, p. 274. 
microchemically (mi-kro-kem'i-kal-i), adv. By 
microchemical processes; by means of or in 
accordance with microchemistry. 
microchemistry (mi-kro-kem'is-tri), . [< Gr. 
/UK/MS, small, minute, + E. chemistry.] Minuto 
chemical investigation; chemical analysis or 
investigation applied to objects under the mi- 
croscope. 
Microchiroptera (mi''kro-ki-rop'te-ra), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. /UKpof, small, + NL. Chiroptera, 
q. v.] A suborder of Chiroptera, including the 
insectivorous or animalivorous (rarely frugivo- 
rous or blood-sucking) bats. They have a simple 
stomach (except Destnodontes); a large Spigelian and gener- 
ally small caudate lobe of the- liver ; the tail contained in 
the interfemoral membrane when present, or freed from 
its upper surface ; the rim of the ear incomplete at the base 
of the auricle ; the index-finger rudimentary or wanting 
and without a claw ; the palate not produced back of the 
molar teeth ; and the molar teeth cuspidate. The group 
includes all bats except the family Pteropodidce (which 
constitutes the suborder tfeiiachiroptera), inhabiting most 
parts of the world, and falling into two large series, the 
vespertilionine alliance and the emballonurine alliance, 
the former of three families, the latter of two. Anima 
livo-ra, Entomophaya, and Insectivora are synonyms of 
Microchiroptera. 
microchiropteran (mi"kro-ki-rop'te-ran), a. 
and n. I. a. Of or pertaining to the Microchi- 
roptera. 
II. ii. One of the Microchiroptera; any bat 
except a fruit-bat. 
microchiropterous (mi"kro-ki-rop'te-rus), a. 
Same as microchirojiteratt. 
microchoanite (mi-kro-ko'a-nit), a. and . [< 
NL. Microchoanitea.] I. a. Having short sep- 
tal funnels, as a nautiloid; belonging to the 
Microchoanites. 
II. . A member of the Microchoanites. 
Microchoanites (nri-kro-ko-a-m'tez), n. pi. 
[NL., < Gr. timpof, small, + x- v 1i a funnel: see 
choana, choanite.] A group of ellipochoanoid 
nautiloid cephalopods whose septal funnels are 
short. Hyatt, Proc. Bost. Soc. Nat. Hist., 1883, 
p. 260. 
microchronometer (mi'kro-kro-uom'e-ter), ii. 
[< Gr. umpof, small, + xp6vo<;, time, + /ttTpov, 
measure : see chronometer. ] An instrument for 
registering very small periods of time, such as 
the time occupied by the passage of a projectile 
over a short distance: a kind of chronograph. 
Also called, corruptly, micronometer. 
Microciona (mi-kro-si'o-na), . [NL., < Gr. 
fiiKpof,^ small, + riuv (KIOV-), a pillar.] A genus of 
fibrosilicious sponges of the division Echinonc- 
inata. M. proltfera is a common sponge on the Atlantic 
coast of the United States, growing in tide-pools in sheeted 
or branched masses of orange-red color. 
microclastic (mi-kro-klas'tik), n. [< Gr. /unpof, 
small, + AaoT(if, broken, < kf.av, break : see clas- 
tic.] An epithet applied to a clastic or frag- 
mentary rock or breccia made up of pieces of 
small size. Naumann. [Bare.] 
microcline (mi'kro-klin), 11. [< Gr. /jtiKp6f, small, 
+ Mveiv, in- 
cline : see 
dine, clinic.] A 
feldspar iden- 
tical in com- 
position with 
orthoclase,but 
belonging to 
the triclinic 
system. Thin 
sections often ex- 
hibit a peculiar 
grating-like struc- 
ture in polarized 
light, due to 
double twinning. 
M !! C J l ii f thC P< 5V Section of Microcline as seen in polarized 
ash feldspar call- light, 
ed orthoclase is 
really microcline, and the beautiful green feldspar called 
Amazon stone is here included. See feldspar and ortho- 
clone. 
Micrococcus (mi-kro-kok'us), . [NL., < Gr. iu- 
Kp6(, small, + K<kKof, a berry, kernel : see coccvs.] 
1. A genus of Schizomycetes (fission-fungi or 
bacteria), and the only one of the tribe Splurro- 
bacttria. It is characterized by globular or oval slight- 
