Microcosm

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Microcosm \Mi"cro*cosm\, n. [F. microcosme, L. microcosmus, fr.
     Gr. mikro`s small + ko`smos the world.]
     1. A little world; a miniature universe. Hence (so called by
        Paracelsus), a man, as a supposed epitome of the exterior
        universe or great world. Opposed to {macrocosm}. --Shak.
        [1913 Webster]


  
     2. A relatively small object or system considered as
        representative of a larger system of which it is part,
        exhibiting many features of the complete system.
        [PJC] Microcosmic

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  microcosm
       n : a miniature model of something