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. on a small scale

   games are real life in miniature

adjective

1. greatly reduced in size

2. on a small scale; minute

Other Word Forms

• superminiature 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.

Example Sentences

From my all-girls school on the Upper East Side, I’d head a few miles north to 115th Street and sit at a miniature table with a young girl.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Partly because he treated us kids like miniature adults; not prodigies, not pests, just small people doing something brave together.

Read more on Salon

These microspheres function like miniature "pills" that are swallowed and include magnetic particles so they can be easily collected from stool.

Read more on Science Daily

A win for anyone who collects wine or art, this miniature sculpture has both a sense of humor and a practical purpose.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Chihuahuas, rat terriers and miniature poodles are muscling in on strength contests long dominated by big dogs.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• mini 
• pint-sized 
• reduced 
• scaled-down www.thesaurus.com
• small 
• small-scale 
• tiny