Definition

Noun: A small, flat sheet of microfilm containing greatly reduced photographic images of printed pages, such as books, newspapers, or documents. A special magnifying viewer is required to read the material.

Usage

"Microfiche" is an uncountable noun when referring to the medium in general, but it can be countable when referring to individual sheets. * Researchers often consult microfiche to read old newspaper archives. * The library has a microfiche containing the entire 1920 census. * I need to find the microfiche for the January 1955 edition.

Examples

• Before digital archives, libraries stored periodicals on microfiche to save space.
• The clerk retrieved the correct microfiche from the filing cabinet and loaded it into the reader.
• These documents are only available on microfiche in the reference section.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on microfiche": To be stored or available in the microfiche format.
  • The university's thesis collection from before 1995 is on microfiche.
• "Microfiche reader" or "microfiche viewer": The optical device used to magnify and display the images on a microfiche.
  • You can find a microfiche reader on the second floor of the library.

Variants and Related Words

• Microfilm (noun): A related technology where images are stored on a long, continuous roll of film, as opposed to individual sheets (fiche).
• Microform (noun): A general term for any medium containing micro-reproductions, including both microfiche and microfilm.

Synonyms

• Microfilm (when referring to the general concept of miniaturized photographic storage)
• Microform

Antonyms / Contrasting Terms

• Hard copy / Paper copy
• Digital file / Electronic document
• Original manuscript

Noun

1. small sheet of microfilm on which many pages of material have been photographed; a magnification system is used to read the material