Definition of miniature
1a : a copy on a much reduced scale The designer displayed a miniature of the Washington, D.C. Mall.b : something small of its kind The little boy looked like his father in miniature.
2 : a painting in an illuminated (see 2illuminate 4) book or manuscript
3 : the art of painting miniatures The artist excelled in miniature.
4 : a very small portrait or other painting (as on ivory or metal) The lady wore a locket containing a miniature of her mother.
in miniature
: in a greatly diminished size, form, or scale
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Examples of miniature in a Sentence
a diorama filled with miniatures of town buildings as they looked in the 19th century
Recent Examples of miniature from the Web
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Residents in the past decade have worked to make Linden Grove Cemetery a miniature Spring Grove Cemetery, a place offering reverence for the dead but also something for the living.
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Cordova looks and feels like a miniature Juneau, down to the glacial green of Orca Inlet.
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The show features several divisions including miniature, dressage and saddle seat; also 4-H drill team competition.
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Miniature train rides, pony rides, petting zoo, magic show with Dave Cottrell, ice cream eating contest, food trucks (Celtic Pig and Lexie Lu’s), Ehrler’s Ice Cream, tours of the Farnsley-Moremen House and music by Josh Logan Band.
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In this light, the IBM PC was just a continuation of business as usual in miniature.
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Nintendo says the retro system, designed to replicated in miniature the original 1991 console, will include original U.S. pack-in Super Mario World, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Super Mario Kart, Super Metroid and F-Zero.
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Bethesda created an entire miniature Bethesdaland theme park for its press conference attendees, complete with demonic balloon figures and a Ferris wheel.
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Made for the current queen’s grandmother in 1924, this miniature masterpiece is executed in astonishing detail.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'miniature.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of miniature
Italian miniatura art of illuminating a manuscript, from Medieval Latin, from Latin miniatus, past participle of miniare to color with minium, from minium red lead
miniature
Definition of miniature
: being or represented on a small scale
Examples of miniature in a Sentence
a collection of miniature books
The little boy looks like a miniature version of his father.
Recent Examples of miniature from the Web
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After their meal, families checked out the gadgets inside a police car, got their faces painted and found themselves behind bars in a miniature jail.
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Stop into the Studio City store for model cars, airplanes, and rockets as well as dollhouse materials with all of the trimmings, including miniature furniture and home accessories.
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Children between the ages of 3 and 10 years old can practice riding on the streets of the miniature city and learn about bike safety.
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National Jewish Health, located just south of the impressive green spaces and miniature lake at City Park, is consistently one of the best three research-hospital systems in the country for pulmonology.
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Bob Schmuck is a model railroader who’s added miniature buildings and track to the water garden scene at his house.
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The chair’s aluminum armrests jut out at 90 degrees, like miniature plane wings, and attach under the seat (rather than to the back, like most chairs) so that the person sitting can swing her legs to the side unrestricted.
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The miniature fruit is basically a kiwi the size of a berry, Delish reports.
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The console was a miniature version of the original Nintendo Entertainment System and bundled 22 of the original game console's titles.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'miniature.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
First Known Use of miniature
1714
Synonym Discussion of miniature
MINIATURE Defined for English Language Learners
miniature
playDefinition of miniature for English Language Learners
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: a very small sculpture, portrait, or painting
miniature
Definition of miniature for English Language Learners
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: very small
MINIATURE Defined for Kids
Definition of miniature for Students
1 : a copy of something that is much smaller than the original I made a miniature of the Eiffel Tower.
2 : a very small portrait or painting
History for miniature
Minium was the Latin name for a red pigment used in ancient times. In the days before printed books, this substance was used to decorate manuscripts. The Latin verb meaning to color with minium was miniare. In early Italian, its meaning was broadened to the point where it simply meant “to decorate a manuscript,” and the noun miniatura was used to refer to any manuscript illustration, no matter what color. Since the illustrations in manuscripts (called illuminations) are small by comparison with most other paintings, the word miniature, borrowed into English from Italian miniature, came to mean any small painting, and eventually anything very small.
Definition of miniature for Students
: very small miniature books a miniature breed of dogs
Learn More about miniature
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See words that rhyme with miniature Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for miniature Spanish Central: Translation of miniature Nglish: Translation of miniature for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of miniature for Arabic speakers
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