microscopical
- adjective
- /ˌmaɪkrəˈskɒpɪkəl/
- Specialized
- These organisms are microscopical and can only be seen under a microscope.
Examples
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Only a microscopical trace of the substance remained after the reaction.
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The differences between the two minerals are microscopical and require special equipment to detect.
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Under microscopical examination, the sample revealed hidden structures not seen with the naked eye.
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The microscopical details of the specimen fascinated the researchers.
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Only a microscopical trace of the substance remained after the reaction.
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The differences between the two minerals are microscopical and require special equipment to detect.
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These organisms are microscopical and can only be seen under a microscope.
Synonyms
So small that only a microscope can see it
Too small to see with the naked eye or a normal microscope
So small that a normal light microscope cannot show it, only special microscopes can
Visible only with a very powerful microscope, not with light
How Small
Surface Forms
Morphology
microscopical = microscopic (transparent) = micro + scop + ical
The word is a straightforward adjectival extension of microscopic with an added -al.
Etymology
Microscopical has the parts micro- 'small' and -scope 'to look', as in microscope, so it means 'so tiny you can only see it with a microscope'.