macrocosm/microcosm

[xbladefate25]

what difference between two words in question? i find two words in Dictionary.com but I don't know difference.


Take Dictionary.com, for example:

MACROCOSM:
Definitions:
1) The entire world; the universe.; the great world or universe; the universe considered as a whole (opposed to microcosm).
(Expanded version: the whole of a complex structure, especially the world or the universe, contrasted with a small or representative part of it. Contrasted with microcosm.)

Examples: In other words, the macrocosm of the cosmos is reflected in the microcosm of individual experience

The physics that works for falling bodies and pirouetting ice skaters down here in the microcosm of the Earth makes galaxies up there in the macrocosm of the universe.

2) the total or entire complex structure of something; A system reflecting on a large scale one of its component systems or parts.
Example: the macrocosm of war.
You can see its effects in the macrocosm of HIV infections.
But the flower choker holds a unique place in the macrocosm of the early aughts revival

3) a representation of a smaller unit or entity by a larger one, presumably of a similar structure.


MICROCOSM:

1) a little world; a world in miniature (opposed to macrocosm)

(expanded version: A small, representative system having analogies to a larger system in constitution, configuration, or development)

Examples: "He sees the auto industry as a microcosm of the U.S. itself" (William J. Hampton).
Little Tokyo is a microcosm of Japan.
The dynamic acts as a microcosm for Edinburgh's own theological development
The audience was selected to create a microcosm of American society.

2) anything that is regarded as a world in miniature.

Example: We regarded the struggle in prison as a microcosm of the struggle as a whole.
Farmville, the town that Dorothy left behind in the 1940s, had become in the 1950s a microcosm of Americas struggle over integration in its public school

3) human beings, humanity, society, or the like, viewed as an epitome or miniature of the world or universe.

 

[emsr2d2]

What is the difference between the two words in question? I find have found two both words in on Dictionary.com but I don't know understand the difference.

Note my corrections above.

I think the first line of each definition should give you a pretty good idea of the difference:

Macrocosm: the entire world; the universe
Microcosm: a little world; a world in miniature

 

[xbladefate25]

Sorry again teacher. My english not good. I just came to USA to study from China. Macrocosm to me sound like big big place. Microcosm seem like small place/event with same qualities as big brohter place, it can stand on its own as separate nation or government

 

[emsr2d2]

Sorry again. There is no need to apologise.

teacher.

My English is not good. I just came to recently arrived in the USA from China, to study. from China.

"Macrocosm" sounds to me sound like big a big place. "Microcosm" seems like a small place/event with the same qualities as a big brother place. It can stand on its own as a separate nation or government.

Please look carefully at my corrections above.
Neither word means just one specific thing. It's used to represent something of a particular size. It's hard to explain, especially in simple English.

I think your English is at quite a basic level. Why are you looking up words such as "macrocosm", "microcosm" and "paroxysm" (your other thread)? I think you are looking at English that is too difficult for you at the moment. Concentrate on the basics:

- Start every sentence with a capital letter.
- Always capitalise the word "I" (first person singular pronoun).
- Capitalise all proper nouns (English, Microsoft etc).
- End every sentence with one appropriate punctuation mark.
- You need to study the use of articles (a, an, the) in English. (We are aware that this is difficult because Chinese doesn't use articles.)

I have no idea what you mean by "a big brother place".

 

[Tarheel]

@xbladefate25 There is no need to ask about a word or words and also post definitions. It makes your post overly long. (I suppose it might help if I didn't know the word(s), but that is not the case here.)