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microsystem

1 6.6

A small part of a larger group, like a department or cell, that works on its own

noun
/ˈmaɪkroʊˌsɪstəm/

Specialized

: subsistema

Examples

Au is a simple audio file format that was introduced by Sun Microsystems.

Academic text (2008)
It's a joint venture of General Motors, Sun Microsystems, and Siemens PLM Software, and their partners and supporters, such as Ansys.

Academic text (2008)
Marjorie is a national and international leader in designing and implementing improvement strategies in the place where patients, families, and care teams meet—in the clinical microsystem.

Blog text (27)
The research team analyzed the microsystem of ant behavior to understand their interactions within the larger ecosystem.
Each microsystem in the city’s infrastructure relies on smaller networks to maintain efficient energy management.
In biology class, we studied a microsystem that included various organisms and their roles in the habitat.

Synonyms

subsystem

vsmicrosystem

Specialized

11 5.6

A smaller part of a larger machine or program that does a specific job

is small and self contained operating independently within the larger system

How Small

component

447 3.4

microsystem

Specialized

1 6.6

subsystem

Specialized

11 5.6

system

∞ 2.7

Surface Forms

microsystem singular

microsystems plural

Morphology

microsystem = system (transparent) = micro + system

This is a straightforward prefixation in which micro- adds the meaning 'small' to system.

Etymology

The word microsystem combines micro- meaning 'very small' and system meaning 'a group that works together'. So it can mean a small, self-contained part of a larger organization, like a department or a cell with its own processes.