miniature

[ min-ee-uh-cher, -choor, min-uh-cher ]
/ ˈmɪn i ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈmɪn ə tʃər /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR miniature ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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

adjective

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

Idioms for miniature

    in miniature, in a reduced size; on a small scale: The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.

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)

OTHER WORDS FROM miniature

su·per·min·i·a·ture, adjective

Words nearby miniature

mini-, mini-me, mini-state, mini-vac, miniate, miniature, miniature bull terrier, miniature camera, miniature golf, miniature photography, miniature pinscher

Words related to miniature

small, mini, little, toy, wee, petite, diminutive, minuscule, pocket, midget, baby, model, mite, Lilliputian, minute, reduced, teeny, teensy, itsy-bitsy, itty-bitty

Example sentences from the Web for miniature

British Dictionary definitions for miniature

miniature
/ (ˈmɪnɪtʃə) /

noun

adjective

greatly reduced in size
on a small scale; minute

Word Origin for miniature

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