1. Very small; this is the root of its use as a quantifier prefix.
2. A quantifier prefix, calling for multiplication by 10^-6 (see
{quantifiers}). Neither of these uses is peculiar to hackers, but
hackers tend to fling them both around rather more freely than is
countenanced in standard English. It is recorded, for example, that
one CS professor used to characterize the standard length of his
lectures as a microcentury -- that is, about 52.6 minutes (see also
{attoparsec}, {nanoacre}, and especially {microfortnight}).
3. Personal or human-scale -- that is, capable of being maintained or
comprehended or manipulated by one human being. This sense is
generalized from microcomputer, and is esp. used in contrast with
macro- (the corresponding Greek prefix meaning `large').
4. Local as opposed to global (or {macro-}). Thus a hacker might say
that buying a smaller car to reduce pollution only solves a
microproblem; the macroproblem of getting to work might be better
solved by using mass transit, moving to within walking distance, or
(best of all) telecommuting.
[glossary]
[Reference(s) to this entry by made by: {attoparsec}{macro-}{nano-}{nanofortnight}{pico-}{quantifiers}{u-}]