1974, introduced with the 15th edition of the Encyclopaedia Britannica, for the part of the encyclopedia in which information was presented in full essays, from macro- + ending from encyclopaedia.

"type of large white blood cell with the power to devour foreign debris in the body or other cells or organisms," 1890, from macro- "large" + -phage "eater."

"photography of objects at or larger than actual size without the use of a magnifying lens," 1863, from macro- + photography.

"visible to the naked eye," 1841, from macro- + ending from microscopic. Related: Macroscopical; macroscopically.

in botany, "a spore of large size compared with others," 1859, from macro- "large" + spore (n.).

plural maculae, "a spot, blotch," especially on the skin or eye, c. 1400, from Latin macula "spot, stain," used of various spots (sunspots, markings on minerals, etc.), from Proto-Italic *smalto-, which is of uncertain origin. The macula lutea of the eye, the yellow spot of the retina opposite the pupil (the position of the most distinct vision), is from 1848.

by 1806, "spotted, exhibiting or characterized by spots," from macula "a spot" + -ar. Meaning "pertaining to the macula lutea of the eye is by 1873.

early 15c., maculaten "to spoil, pollute, defile," from Latin maculatus, past participle of maculare "to make spotted, to speckle," from macula "spot, stain" (see macula). Literal meaning "to spot, stain" is by 1640s. Related: Maculated; maculating.

"spotted, marked with spots," late 15c., from Latin maculatus, past participle of maculare "to make spotted, to speckle," from macula "spot, stain" (see macula). Maculate conception is attested by 1756.

late 15c., maculacioun, "sexual defilement, sinning," from Latin maculationem (nominative maculatio) "a spotting," noun of action from past-participle stem of maculare "to make spotted," from macula "spot, stain" (see macula). In English, the literal meaning "act of spotting, a staining with spots, state of being spotted, pattern of spots on a plant or animal" is by 1707. Nares, in his "Glossary" of Shakespeare's words (1822) calls it "an uncommon word, not so properly obsolete, as never thoroughly in use."