macro
MAK-roh
/ˈmækroʊ/
A style of photography involving extreme close-ups of tiny subjects, typically capturing them at a 1:1 magnification ratio or greater.
In photography, 'macro' means making small things look large, which is technically the opposite of its general linguistic meaning of 'large-scale'.
The story behind the word. The word 'macro' comes from the Greek 'makros', meaning 'long' or 'large'. In photography, the term was adopted to describe lenses that could produce an image on the film or sensor that was equal to or larger than the physical subject itself (a 1:1 ratio), making tiny details appear massive when printed.
Word relationships
- close-up: A 'close-up' is a general term for any shot taken near the subject, while 'macro' technically requires a 1:1 magnification ratio where the subject is life-sized on the sensor.
- telephoto: 'Telephoto' refers to lenses designed to capture distant subjects, whereas 'macro' is designed for extremely close subjects.
Commonly confused with
- micro: 'Micro' photography typically involves shooting through a microscope at magnifications far greater than 1:1, whereas 'macro' is done with a standard camera lens.
Word family
- macroscopic (adjective): Large enough to be visible to the naked eye.
- macroscopically (adverb): In a macroscopic manner.
Collocations
- macro lens
- macro photography
- macro shot
Example sentences
- "Using a dedicated macro lens, she captured the intricate, crystalline structure of a single snowflake." A description of a nature photographer's portfolio.
Memory hook
Macro makes miniature things massive. Macro for massive detail.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'micro', which in photography is a term sometimes used by Nikon for the same concept, but in general science refers to microscopic imaging.
Fun facts
- True macro lenses are so sensitive to movement that even the tiny vibration of a photographer's heartbeat can cause the image to lose focus.
Explore more words
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.