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

The miniature Erewhon will be tucked away near cold plunge pools and a sauna at 120 Leroy Street in New York City, according to blueprints Fieg posted on Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times

Jordan, who wore a cross around his neck and miniature ones dangling from his ears.

From Los Angeles Times

Lim calls CU’s overseas locations “‘miniature South Koreas’ where people can experience the products that have become popular with the K-wave.

From Los Angeles Times

Walk through a thrift store and you’ll see it mapped out in miniature: aisles of Instant Pots, bread makers, Ninja CREAMis, all lined up like monuments to good intentions.

From Salon

Here, in this miniature teatime, I can imagine that at any moment, children will come running back to play while adults laugh from the porch.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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