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Glite Dictionary
electron microscopic

electron microscopic

6.5
Visible only with a very powerful microscope, not with light
  • adjective
  • /ɪˈlɛktrɒn ˌmaɪkrəˈskɒpɪk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : electrónico microscópico
  • The electron microscopic image revealed intricate details of the virus's structure.
  • electron microscopic study

Examples

  • Electron microscopic examination was performed on tissue retrieved from one of the paraffin blocks of the resected tumor.

    Academic text (2001)

  • So what we did was we used scanning electron microscopic photography for the electron microscope to work.

  • We believe that the pathogenesis of this process will eventually become obvious as we gain experience with electron microscopic studies on patients with diabetes mellitus.

    Academic text (1999)

  • This is a real transmission electron microscopic image on the CDC's website with the claim it depicts a number of round dingy virus particles.

  • The light microscopic, immunohistochemical, and electron microscopic findings were considered to be diagnostic of a malignant fibrous histiocytoma.

    Academic text (2001)

  • The immunoprecipitation, RT-PCR, and electron-microscopic findings point to the expression of TF by both the a and cells but not by d or pancreatic polypeptide cells.

    Academic text (2002)

  • Researchers conducted an electron microscopic examination to better understand the cellular changes.

  • By using electron microscopic techniques, scientists were able to visualize the tiny features of the sample.

Synonyms

ultrastructural
vselectron microscopic
  • Specialized
1 9.0

Tiny parts of cells or tissues that you can only see with a very strong microscope

is limited to observation with a specific very high power microscope
ultramicroscopic
vselectron microscopic
  • Specialized
9.9

So small that a normal light microscope cannot show it, only special microscopes can

is narrower requiring a specific high power instrument to observe

How Small

submicroscopic
  • Specialized
1 8.2
electron microscopic
  • Specialized
6.5
microscopic
52 4.8
visible
398 1.0

Surface Forms

electron microscopic positive

Morphology

electron + microscopic

The adjective is a straightforward composition where 'electron' specifies the type of microscope and 'microscopic' indicates something observable only with a microscope; together they mean 'relating to or visible by an electron microscope.' This compositional pattern is literal and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents would be able to infer the MWE's meaning.

Etymology

Electron microscopic links electron and microscopic: it describes things so tiny they cannot be seen with normal light. Scientists use machines that send tiny bits called electrons to make pictures of these very small parts, so the term means 'visible only with an electron microscope'.