miniature Hear it!

miniature definition

minia·ture (min′ē ə c̸hər, min′i c̸hər)

noun

  1. a small painting or illuminated letter, as in a medieval manuscript
    1. a very small painting, esp. a portrait, done on ivory, vellum, etc.
    2. the art of making such paintings
  3. a copy or model on a very small scale

Etymology: It miniatura, rubrication, illumination of manuscripts < ML < pp. of L miniare, to paint red < minium, red lead (see minium): sense infl. by L minutus, minute

adjective

on or done on a very small scale; diminutive; minute
miniature Idioms

in miniature

on a small scale; greatly reduced

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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