MACRO

macro

(adjective) very large in scale or scope or capability

macro, macro instruction

(noun) a single computer instruction that results in a series of instructions in machine language

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology 1

Adjective

macro (not comparable)

Very large in scope or scale.

(cooking, colloquial) Clipping of macrobiotic.

Noun

macro (countable and uncountable, plural macros)

(colloquial, nutrition, countable, chiefly, in plural) Clipping of macronutrient.

(colloquial, economics, uncountable) Clipping of macroeconomics.

Etymology 2

Noun

macro (plural macros)

(programming) A comparatively human-friendly abbreviation of complex input to a computer program.

Usage notes

• Often used attributively; a macro language is the syntax for defining new macros; while macro expansion refers to the task of replacing the human-friendly version with a machine-readable version; a macro virus is a computer virus written in a macro language. Individual macros are sometimes referred to as macro functions, particularly when they accept parameters.

• The distinction between a macro language and a programming language is imprecise. Often a macro language is designed to allow one to customize one particular program, whereas a programming language is designed for writing entirely new programs.

• Whereas a shortcut is particularly easy to use, widely supported, and designed for normal users, macro systems are normally designed for power users.