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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Microcosm \Mi"cro*cosm\, noun [F. microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr. Gr. mikro's small + ko'smos the world.]
1. A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior universe or great world. Opposed to {macrocosm}. --Shak.
2. A relatively small object or system considered as representative of a larger system of which it is part, exhibiting many features of the complete system. [PJC]
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
microcosm
noun: a miniature model of something
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Definitions retrieved from local copies of the freely distributed DICT client/server software and databases. Click here for database copyright information. - KM |