miniature

American  

[min-ee-uh-cher, -choor, min-uh-cher] / ˈmɪn i ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈmɪn ə tʃər /

noun

• miniatures
  plural

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.

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adjective

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

   Synonyms:

   minuscule, tiny, diminutive, microscopic, minute

idioms

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

   The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.

miniature British  

/ 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

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adjective

1. greatly reduced in size

2. on a small scale; minute

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• superminiature
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• miniatures
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of miniature

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

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Explanation

Things that are miniature are teeny tiny versions of something else. Think miniature poodle. Unless you don't like small dogs. Then think miniature footballs. Aww, cute. When something is a miniature, it is like it has been shrunk down in size. It's not just small, it's a small replica of something else. If you made a dollhouse that was a scale representation of your own house, it would be a miniature of your home. It would also be a little weird.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

miniature miniatures

These included organoids, which are miniature tumor models grown from patient tissue, as well as human cancer cells cultured in laboratory dishes and implanted into mice.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 16, 2026

Rushmore scene was filmed on a miniature version of the monument.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

In one food group I follow, posts about AI restaurant marketing increasingly read like miniature boycott pledges.

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

For items he believes would thrive in miniature, he creates a mock-up before seeking permission from the maker of the normal-size version.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

He shot a quick nod to the two of us and ran his finger along the side of his nose as if giving a miniature salute.

From "The Detective's Assistant" by Kate Hannigan

Two miniatures, shown here in blown-up copies, may date from Henry and Anne’s courtship.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 22, 2026

Some scenes for the Rocky Horror Picture Show were recorded at the studios in 1974 and Ridley Scott built and shot the miniatures for his Academy Award winning sci-fi thriller Alien there in 1978.

From BBC ● May 9, 2026

Many more eccentric characters appear, such as Tristram’s Uncle Toby, a wounded veteran who loses himself by re-creating former battles with miniatures.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 9, 2026

Thanks to a melange of practical effects, matte paintings, miniatures, models and costly, groundbreaking special effects, Donner achieved a superhero movie that looks unlike anything made in the decades since.

From Salon ● Jul. 10, 2025

He had ledges full of Star Wars miniatures, and a huge The Empire Strikes Back poster on his wall.

From "Wonder" by R. J. Palacio

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Related Words

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

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