ANSI Common Lisp   3 Evaluation and Compilation   3.2 Compilation   3.2.2 Compilation Semantics

3.2.2.1 Compiler Macros

A function name names a compiler macro if compiler-macro-function is true of the function name in the lexical environment in which it appears. Creating a lexical binding for the function name not only creates a new local function or macro definition, but also shadows₂ the compiler macro.

The function returned by compiler-macro-function is a function of two arguments, called the expansion function. To expand a compiler macro, the expansion function is invoked by calling the macroexpand hook with the expansion function as its first argument, the entire compiler macro form as its second argument, and the current compilation environment (or with the current lexical environment, if the form is being processed by something other than compile-file) as its third argument. The macroexpand hook, in turn, calls the expansion function with the form as its first argument and the environment as its second argument. The return value from the expansion function, which is passed through by the macroexpand hook, might either be the same form, or else a form that can, at the discretion of the code doing the expansion, be used in place of the original form.

3.2.2.1.1  Purpose of Compiler Macros
3.2.2.1.2  Naming of Compiler Macros
3.2.2.1.3  When Compiler Macros Are Used