miniature
Americannoun
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a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.
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a greatly reduced or abridged form or copy.
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a very small painting, especially a portrait, on ivory, vellum, or the like.
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the art of executing such a painting.
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an illumination in an illuminated manuscript or book.
adjective
idioms
noun
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a model, copy, or similar representation on a very small scale
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anything that is very small of its kind
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a very small painting, esp a portrait, showing fine detail on ivory or vellum
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a very small bottle of whisky or other spirits, which can hold 50 millilitres
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an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript
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on a small scale
games are real life in miniature
adjective
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greatly reduced in size
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on a small scale; minute
Other Word Forms
- superminiature adjective
Etymology
Origin of miniature
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 )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The results are Romantic landscapes in miniature, with the variegation of the stone transforming into fields, skies and mountains whose beauty is further enhanced by the delicate metalwork in which they’re mounted.
The Monrovia-based company, which opened its first store in 1967 in Pasadena, is privately owned and known for its many private-label products, including cult favorite frozen orange chicken, cookie butter and viral miniature tote bags.
From Los Angeles Times
This visual history of the World Cup from 1930 to present day shows iconic moments from the sport staged with vivid detail, and is brought to life by Barrois’ miniature figures made from gum wrappers.
From Los Angeles Times
ICF uses powerful lasers or electrical charges to squeeze tiny fuel pellets rapidly until their atoms fuse—like a controlled, miniature version of the process that powers the sun.
“It doesn’t matter. The question is moot,” Jackson intones, before launching into a miniature stump speech.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
