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Shortcut vs Macro - What's the difference?

shortcut | macro |

As nouns the difference between shortcut and macro

is that shortcut is a path between two points that is faster than the commonly used paths while macro is a comparatively human-friendly abbreviation of complicated input to a computer program.

As a verb shortcut

is to take or use a shortcut.

As an adjective macro is

very large in scope or scale.

shortcut

English

Alternative forms

* short cut, short-cut

Noun

(en noun)
  • A path between two points that is faster than the commonly used paths.
  • A method to accomplish something that omits one or more steps.
  • A symlink (symbolic file link); especially , one that appears as an icon.
    • There are shortcuts to some of my favourite applications on my desktop.
  • A keyboard shortcut - a combination of keystrokes that provides easier access to a command or operation

    • Derived terms

    * keyboard shortcut

    See also

    * ("shortcut" on Wikipedia)

    Verb

    (shortcutt)
  • (rft-sense) To take or use a shortcut

    • Anagrams

    *

    macro

    English

    Etymology 1

    1933, from .

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Very large in scope or scale.

    • Etymology 2

    1959, shortened form of macroinstruction.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (programming, computing) A comparatively human-friendly abbreviation of complicated input to a computer program.
    • The pre-processor expands any embedded macro s into source code before it is compiled.
    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 function s, 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. * Although a shortcut'' is particularly easy to use, widely supported, and designed for normal users, ''macro system s are normally designed for power users.
    See also
    *

    See also

    * macro expansion * template

    Etymology 3

    1971, elliptical form of macro lens, from  + lens. Compare macrophotography.

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • (photography) macro lens

    • Anagrams

    * * ----