or microminiaturisation (ˌmaɪkrəʊˌmɪnɪtʃəraɪˈzeɪʃən)
noun
the production and application of very small semiconductor components and the circuits and equipment in which they are used
microminiaturization in American English
(ˌmaikrouˌmɪniətʃərəˈzeiʃən, -ˌmɪnə-)
noun
extreme miniaturization, esp. of electronic equipment, with extensive use of integrated circuits
Word origin
[1950–55; micro- + miniaturization]This word is first recorded in the period 1950–55. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: Common Market, International Gothic, allograph, hot line, point-of-salemicro- is a combining form with the meanings “small” (microcosm; microgamete), “very small in comparison with others of its kind” (microcomputer; microlith), “too small to be seen by the unaided eye” (microfossil; microorganism), “dealing with extremely minute organisms, organic structures, or quantities ofa substance” (microdissection; microscope), “localized, restricted in scope or area” (microburst; microhabitat), “(of a discipline) focusing on a restricted area” (microeconomics), “containing or dealing with texts that require enlargement to be read” (microfilm; microreader), “one millionth” (microgram)