The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

macro \macro\ a.
   very large in scale or scope or capability; as,
   macroeconomics.
   [WordNet 1.5]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Macro- \Mac"ro-\pref. [Gr. makro`s, adj.]
   A combining form signifying long, large, great; as
   macrodiagonal, macrospore, macromolecule, macrocosm.
   [1913 Webster]

The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

macro \macro\ n. [shortened form of macroinstruction]
   1. a single computer instruction which symbolizes, and is
      converted at the time of program execution or by a
      compiler into, a series of instructions in the same
      computer language.
      [WordNet 1.5]

   2. A keystroke (or combination of keystrokes) which
      symbolizes and is replaced by a series of keystrokes; -- a
      convenient feature of some advanced programs, such as word
      processors or database programs, which allows a user to
      rapidly execute any series of operations which may be
      performed multiple times. Such macros may typically be
      defined by the program user, without rewriting or
      recompiling the program.
      [PJC]

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

macro
    adj 1: very large in scale or scope or capability
    n 1: a single computer instruction that results in a series of
         instructions in machine language [syn: macro, macro
         instruction]

The Jargon File (version 4.4.7, 29 Dec 2003):

macro
 /mak'roh/, n.

    [techspeak] A name (possibly followed by a formal arg list) that is
    equated to a text or symbolic expression to which it is to be expanded
    (possibly with the substitution of actual arguments) by a macro expander.
    This definition can be found in any technical dictionary; what those won't
    tell you is how the hackish connotations of the term have changed over
    time.

    The term macro originated in early assemblers, which encouraged the use of
    macros as a structuring and information-hiding device. During the early
    1970s, macro assemblers became ubiquitous, and sometimes quite as powerful
    and expensive as HLLs, only to fall from favor as improving compiler
    technology marginalized assembler programming (see languages of choice).
    Nowadays the term is most often used in connection with the C preprocessor,
    LISP, or one of several special-purpose languages built around a
    macro-expansion facility (such as TeX or Unix's [nt]roff suite).

    Indeed, the meaning has drifted enough that the collective macros is now
    sometimes used for code in any special-purpose application control language
    (whether or not the language is actually translated by text expansion), and
    for macro-like entities such as the keyboard macros supported in some text
    editors (and PC TSR or Macintosh INIT/CDEV keyboard enhancers).


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

MACRO

   1. Assembly language for VAX/VMS.

   2. PL/I-like language with extensions for string processing.
   "MACRO: A Programming Language", S.R. Greenwood, SIGPLAN
   Notices 14(9):80-91 (Sep 1979).

   [Jargon File]


The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (30 December 2018):

macro

   A name (possibly followed by a formal argument list) that is
   equated to a text or symbolic expression to which it is to be
   expanded (possibly with the substitution of actual
   arguments) by a macro expander.

   The term "macro" originated in early assemblers, which
   encouraged the use of macros as a structuring and
   information-hiding device.  During the early 1970s, macro
   assemblers became ubiquitous, and sometimes quite as powerful
   and expensive as HLLs, only to fall from favour as improving
   compiler technology marginalised assembly language
   programming (see languages of choice).  Nowadays the term is
   most often used in connection with the C preprocessor,
   Lisp, or one of several special-purpose languages built
   around a macro-expansion facility (such as TeX or Unix's
   troff suite).

   Indeed, the meaning has drifted enough that the collective
   "macros" is now sometimes used for code in any special-purpose
   application control language (whether or not the language is
   actually translated by text expansion), and for macro-like
   entities such as the "keyboard macros" supported in some text
   editors (and PC TSRs or Macintosh INIT/CDEV keyboard
   enhancers).

   (1994-12-06)