miniature

noun min·i·a·ture \ ˈmi-nē-ə-ˌchu̇r , ˈmi-ni-ˌchu̇r , ˈmin-yə- , -chər , -ˌtyu̇r , -ˌtu̇r \

Updated on: 18 May 2018

Definition of miniature

1 a : 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.

—

miniaturist

play \-ˌchu̇r-ist, -chər-, -ˌtyu̇r-, -ˌtu̇r-\ noun

—

miniaturistic

play \ˌmi-nē-ə-chə-ˈris-tik, ˌmi-ni-, ˌmin-yə-, -ˌtyu̇-, -ˌtu̇-\ adjective

— in miniature

: in a greatly diminished size, form, or scale

See miniature defined for English-language learners

See miniature defined for kids

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

Elsewhere, an island of miniature and hybrid tea roses brightens the driveway.

— emily young, latimes.com, "Looking for drought-garden inspiration? This L.A.-area tour is for you," 27 Apr. 2018
The tower, a miniature of the Leaning Tower of Pisa in Italy, is more than 80 years old, 94 feet tall and tilts more than 7 feet, according to official information about the building.

— staff report, chicagotribune.com, "Big plans still in store for iconic Leaning Tower of Niles, officials say," 11 Apr. 2018
Those houses, though, likely do not come with a miniature of Disney’s Main Street Electrical Parade.

— mary shanklin, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Disney-themed home carries big price tag," 10 Apr. 2018
The spaces range from the cavernous, including a 700-square-foot living room, to the miniature, including a cedar closet that has been re-envisioned as a tiny refuge for reflection and just getting away.

— nancy schoeffler, courant.com, "Decorator Showhouse In West Hartford A Showcase Of Inspired Home Design," 29 Apr. 2018
These dozen evocative miniatures lend themselves to his crystalline precision and wide array of dynamic gradations, as his new recording of Debussy’s Book 2 Preludes, and Sunday’s recital, demonstrated.

— john von rhein, chicagotribune.com, "Youth and experience score separate victories, as Orlinski debuts and Pollini returns," 24 Apr. 2018
During the holidays there is a huge display of an O-scale miniature train.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "Barroco to expand to Crocker Park in Westlake," 18 Apr. 2018
Those busts showcased pieces from a bookish collection that included earrings of miniature bejeweled reliquaries and golden books, the open pages engraved with a poem in almost miraculously tiny lettering.

— hamish bowles, Vogue, "Hamish Bowles Goes Inside Dolce & Gabbana’s Alta Moda and Sartoria Events in New York City," 9 Apr. 2018
There are certain plants for terrariums and some tiny succulents for miniature gardens or settings.

— clare miers, star-telegram, "'Always a talking piece': Hardy succulents encourage container creativity | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 5 Apr. 2018

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.

How miniature Came to Mean What It Does

The word miniature is about size, specifically, small size. But its Latin ancestor concerned not size, but color.

In the era before the invention of the printing press, anything printed was printed by hand: someone pressed a pigmented point to a surface and left marks. People used black pigment mostly, but sometimes they used red, especially for titles, large initial letters, and decorative drawings. The Latin name for the red coloring—which was either cinnabar or red lead—was minium, and the corresponding verb meaning "to color with minium" was miniare.

In early Italian, the association of decorative drawings with miniare was so strong that the meaning of miniare was broadened until it simply meant "to decorate a manuscript." A noun form of the word, miniatura, was used to refer to the art of illuminating—that is, of adding illustrations to—a manuscript, regardless of the colors used. Since the illuminations in manuscripts (as the illustrations themselves are called) were small by comparison with most other paintings, miniatura came to refer not only to a manuscript illumination but to any small portrait or painting, and eventually to anything very small. English speakers had adopted the word as miniature by the 16th century.

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: circa 1586

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

miniature Synonyms

Synonyms

model;

Near Antonyms

archetype, original, prototype;

blowup, enlargement;

dwarf, midget, mini, pocket edition, pygmy (also pigmy);

miniature

adjective

Definition of miniature

: being or represented on a small scale

See miniature defined for English-language learners

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

The group later moved into a rental for creatives — roboticists, organic fashion designers, miniature-cupcake makers — and constructed a makeshift lab using old patio screen doors.

— emily baumgaertner, New York Times, "As D.I.Y. Gene Editing Gains Popularity, ‘Someone Is Going to Get Hurt’," 14 May 2018
The airline will make an exception for miniature horses that have trained as service animals.

— lauren zumbach, chicagotribune.com, "American Airlines bans emotional support amphibians, ferrets, goats and more," 14 May 2018
Later that year, the company rolled out a similar miniature console, this time featuring the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.

— brett molina, USA TODAY, "The NES Classic video game console is making a comeback," 14 May 2018
Gabriel Rico works with Goyita, the factory’s housekeeper, to make an experimental ceviche with mango and Mexican gherkins that look like miniature watermelons.

— julia sherman, Vogue, "Ceramics, Chilaquiles, and Micheladas: An Artist’s Guide to Guadalajara," 10 May 2018
Some island bartenders shade it with a miniature Japanese parasol.

— stanton delaplane, San Francisco Chronicle, "In a little grass shack, Stanton Delaplane, 1975," 9 May 2018
Over 50 cameras capture your image from every angle to create a miniature replica of the subject with a realism that separates doobs from most 3D selfies.

— danielle fox, ELLE Decor, "How to Get Your Own Doob," 8 May 2018
There's a lot to take in, but be sure to zoom in on the more literal details to catch things like lunchbox-style handbags and miniature lifesaver necklaces.

— refinery29.com, "The Best Things About This Chanel Show Weren't Even The Clothes," 4 May 2018
Head coach Brett Brown introducing a post-game locker room, miniature celebration bell following team victories has helped sell the pregame ritual as well.

— jake fischer, SI.com, "Liberty At Last: The Process Behind the 76ers' Bell-Ringing Ceremony," 4 May 2018

First Known Use of miniature

1714

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

miniature Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of miniature

small, little, diminutive, minute, tiny, miniature mean noticeably below average in size. small and little are often interchangeable, but small applies more to relative size determined by capacity, value, number.

- a relatively small backyard

little is more absolute in implication often carrying the idea of petiteness, pettiness, insignificance, or immaturity.

- your pathetic little smile

diminutive implies abnormal smallness.

- diminutive bonsai plants

minute implies extreme smallness.

- a minute amount of caffeine in the soda

tiny is an informal equivalent to minute.

- tiny cracks formed in the painting

miniature applies to an exactly proportioned reproduction on a very small scale.

- a dollhouse with miniature furnishings

MINIATURE Defined for English Language Learners

miniature

noun

Definition of miniature for English Language Learners

: a very small sculpture, portrait, or painting

miniature

adjective

Definition of miniature for English Language Learners

: very small

MINIATURE Defined for Kids

miniature

noun min·i·a·ture \ ˈmi-nē-ə-ˌchu̇r , ˈmi-ni-ˌchu̇r \

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.

miniature

adjective

Definition of miniature for Students

: very small

miniature books

a miniature breed of dogs

Learn More about miniature

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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How miniature Came to Mean What It Does

Origin and Etymology of miniature

miniature Synonyms

Synonyms

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Related Words

miniature

Definition of miniature

Examples of miniature in a Sentence

Recent Examples of miniature from the Web

First Known Use of miniature

miniature Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Near Antonyms

Related Words

Synonym Discussion of miniature

MINIATURE Defined for English Language Learners

miniature

Definition of miniature for English Language Learners

miniature

Definition of miniature for English Language Learners

MINIATURE Defined for Kids

miniature

Definition of miniature for Students

History for miniature

miniature

Definition of miniature for Students

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