1. A microscopically small photograph of a picture, writing, printed
page, etc.
2. An enlarged representation of a microscopic object, produced by
throwing upon a sensitive plate the magnified image of an object formed
by a microscope or other suitable combination of lenses.
A picture of this kind is preferably called a photomicrograph.
Mi`cro*pho*tog"ra*phy (?), n. The art of making microphotographs.
{ Mi`croph*thal"mi*a (?), Mi`croph*thal"my (?), } n. [Micro- + Gr.
'ofqalmo`s eye.] An unnatural smallness of the eyes, occurring as the
result of disease or of imperfect development.
Mi*croph"yl*lous (?), a. [Micro- + Gr. fy`llon leaf.] (Bot.) Small-
leaved.
Mi*croph"y*tal (?), a. (Bot.) Pertaining to, or of the nature of,
microphytes.
Mi"cro*phyte (?), n. [Micro- + Gr. &?; a plant: cf. F. microphyte.]
(Bot.) A very minute plant, one of certain unicellular algæ, such as
the germs of various infectious diseases are believed to be.
Mi"cro*pyle (?), n. [Micro- + Gr. &?; gate, orifice: cf. F. micropyle.]
(Biol.) (a) An opening in the membranes surrounding the ovum, by which
nutrition is assisted and the entrance of the spermatozoa permitted.
(b) An opening in the outer coat of a seed, through which the
fecundating pollen enters the ovule. -- Mi*crop"y*lar (#), a.
Mi*cros"co*pal (?), a. Pertaining to microscopy, or to the use of the
microscope. Huxley.
Mi"cro*scope (?), n. [Micro- + -scope.] An optical instrument,
consisting of a lens, or combination of lenses, for making an enlarged
image of an object which is too minute to be viewed by the naked eye.
Compound microscope, an instrument consisting of a combination of
lenses such that the image formed by the lens or set of lenses nearest
the object (called the objective) is magnified by another lens called
the ocular or eyepiece. -- Oxyhydrogen microscope, and Solar
microscope. See under Oxyhydrogen, and Solar. -- Simple, or Single,
microscope, a single convex lens used to magnify objects placed in its
focus.
Mi`cro*sco"pi*al (?), a. Microscopic. [R.] Berkeley.
{ Mi`cro*scop"ic (?), Mi`cro*scop"ic*al (?), } a. [Cf. F.
microscopique.]
1. Of or pertaining to the microscope or to microscopy; made with a
microscope; as, microscopic observation.