Miniature

Pronunciation

• Canada IPA: /mɪnÉ™tʃɚ/

Origin

From the Italian miniatura (manuscript illumination), from miniare (to illuminate), from the Latin miniāre (to colour red), from minium (''red lead).

Full definition of miniature

Noun

1. Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.
2. A small version of something; a model of reduced scale.There was a miniature of a whaling ship in a glass bottle over the mantlepiece.
3. A small, highly detailed painting, a portrait miniature.
4. The art of painting such highly detailed miniature works.
5. An illustration in an illuminated manuscript.
6. A musical composition which is short in duration.Sacha composed a miniature for strings as a final project at the conservatory.
7. (gaming) A token in a game representing a unit or character.Jack had dozens of miniatures of Napoleonic footsoldiers painted in detailed period regalia for his wargames.
8. Lettering in red; rubric distinction.
9. A particular feature or trait.

Derived terms

• miniaturist

Adjective

1. Smaller than normal.
• 2013-09-06, Alok Jha, Miniature brains grown in lab, Scientists have grown miniature human brains in test tubes, creating a "tool" that will allow them to watch how the organs develop in the womb and, they hope, increase their understanding of neurological and mental problems. ¶ Just a few millimetres across, the "cerebral organoids" are built up of layers of brain cells with defined regions that resemble those seen in immature, embryonic brains.
2. I find miniature dogs annoying; they seem to yap more than full-size dogs.

Derived terms

• miniature poodle
• miniaturism