miniature

[ min-ee-uh-cher, -choor, min-uh-cher ]

noun

1. a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.
2. a greatly reduced or abridged form or copy.
3. a very small painting, especially a portrait, on ivory, vellum, or the like.
4. the art of executing such a painting.
5. an illumination in an illuminated manuscript or book.

adjective

1. being, on, or represented on a small scale; reduced.

   Synonyms: minuscule, tiny, diminutive, microscopic, minute

miniature

/ ˈmɪnɪtʃə /

noun

1. a model, copy, or similar representation on a very small scale
2. anything that is very small of its kind
3. a very small painting, esp a portrait, showing fine detail on ivory or vellum
4. a very small bottle of whisky or other spirits, which can hold 50 millilitres
5. an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript
6. in miniature
   on a small scale

   games are real life in miniature

adjective

1. greatly reduced in size
2. on a small scale; minute

Other Words From

• super·mini·a·ture adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of miniature¹

1580–90; < Italian miniatura miniature painting < Medieval Latin miniātūra, equivalent to miniāt ( us ) ( miniate ) + -ūra -ure; sense development perhaps influenced by Latin base min- ( mini-, minor )

Word History and Origins

Origin of miniature¹

C16: from Italian, from Medieval Latin miniātūra, from miniāre to paint red, (in illuminating manuscripts); from minium

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. in miniature, in a reduced size; on a small scale:

   The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.

Related Words

• mini
• pint-sized
• reduced
• scaled-down
• small
• small-scale
• tiny