Diminutive

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /dɪˈmɪn.jÊŠ.tɪv/, /dəˈmɪn.jÉ™.tɪv/

Alternative forms

• abbreviation, noun, grammar: dim.

Origin

From Middle French diminutif (1398), from Latin diminutivum, from deminuere ("diminish").

Full definition of diminutive

Adjective

1. Very small.
• 2011, October 20, Jamie Lillywhite, Tottenham 1 - 0 Rubin Kazan, Roman Sharonov rose unchallenged to head a corner wide, while diminutive winger Gokdeniz Karadeniz ghosted in with a diving header from the edge of the six-yard box that was acrobatically kept out by Gomes.
2. Serving to diminish.
• Shaftesburydiminutive of liberty
3. (grammar) Of or pertaining to, or creating a word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.

Synonyms

• (very small) lilliputian, tiny

Antonyms

• (very small) huge, gigantic
• (grammar, serving to diminish) augmentative

Noun

1. (grammar) A word form expressing smallness, youth, unimportance, or endearment.Booklet, the diminutive of book, means ‘small book’.

Synonyms

• nomen deminutivum

Antonyms

• augmentative

Related terms

• diminish
• dimwit