Miniature is used to describe something which is very small, especially a smaller version of something which is normally much bigger.
...miniature roses.
He looked like a miniature version of his handsome and elegant big brother.
Synonyms: small, little, minute, baby More Synonyms of miniature
2.
See in miniature
3. countable noun
A miniature is a very small detailed painting, often of a person.
4. countable noun
A miniature is a very small bottle of strong alcohol such as whisky or brandy, and usually contains enough for one or two drinks.
miniature in British English
(ˈmɪnɪtʃə)
noun
1.
a model, copy, or similar representation on a very small scale
2.
anything that is very small of its kind
3.
a very small painting, esp a portrait, showing fine detail on ivory or vellum
4.
a very small bottle of whisky or other spirits, which can hold 50 millilitres
5.
an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript
6. in miniature
adjective
7.
greatly reduced in size
8.
on a small scale; minute
Word origin
C16: from Italian, from Medieval Latin miniātūra, from miniāre to paint red, (in illuminating manuscripts); from minium
miniature in American English
(ˈmɪniətʃər; ˈmɪnɪtʃər)
noun
1.
a small painting or illuminated letter, as in a medieval manuscript
2.
a.
a very small painting, esp. a portrait, done on ivory, vellum, etc.
b.
the art of making such paintings
3.
a copy or model on a very small scale
adjective
4.
on or done on a very small scale; diminutive; minute
SIMILAR WORDS: small
Idioms:
in miniature
Word origin
It miniatura, rubrication, illumination of manuscripts < ML < pp. of L miniare, to paint red < minium, red lead (see minium): sense infl. by L minutus, minute2
Examples of 'miniature' in a sentence
miniature
Make sure you hop on the miniature steam train which passes through park.
The Sun (2017)
I asked two colleagues to test both notes on their puppies, a miniature dachshund and a labrador.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Welcome to the fiercely competitive world of miniature golf.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The miniature steam train runs alongside a beautiful lake.
The Sun (2012)
Officers also have miniature cameras fitted to their helmets and sniffer dogs are mingling with punters.
The Sun (2006)
Only now has it emerged that miniature railways have also been targeted.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Persian poetry and miniature painting had immense prestige.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
Another is a miniature dachshund puppy who is having problems walking.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
We might buy out a movie theatre or miniature golf course or paint china or go bowling.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Or had a miniature train that went from his pool to his house?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In the pen are two jumpy little miniatures.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In her case this meant miniature video cameras.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She is a successful artist, painting beautifully detailed miniatures and depictions of local life.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
They serve drinks in cute miniature bottles, which tend to come in twos.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
By his outstretched hand lay a miniature portrait of a lady, and his watch.
Malcolm Balen A Model Victory (2005)
The mountainous Welles presides over a corner table in the company of his miniature poodle Kiki.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The miniature poodle hasn't had a hit for 25 years.
The Sun (2010)
Word lists with
miniature
bottle, container
In other languages
miniature
British English: miniature /ˈmɪnɪtʃə/ ADJECTIVE
Miniature things are much smaller than other things of the same kind.
The toy house was filled with miniature chairs and tables.
American English: miniature
Arabic: مِصْغَر
Brazilian Portuguese: miniatura
Chinese: 微型的
Croatian: minijaturan
Czech: miniaturní
Danish: miniature-
Dutch: miniatuur-
European Spanish: en miniatura
Finnish: pienois-
French: miniature
German: Miniatur-
Greek: μικροσκοπικός
Italian: in miniatura
Japanese: ミニチュアの
Korean: 축소된
Norwegian: mini-
Polish: miniaturowy
European Portuguese: miniatural
Romanian: miniatural
Russian: миниатюрный
Latin American Spanish: en miniatura
Swedish: miniatyr-
Thai: เล็กมาก
Turkish: minyatür
Ukrainian: мініатюрний
Vietnamese: thu nhỏ
British English: miniature /ˈmɪnɪtʃə/ NOUN
A miniature is a very small detailed painting, often of a person.
American English: miniature
Arabic: صُورَةٌ مُصَّغَرَة مَرْسُومَةٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: miniatura
Chinese: 缩影
Croatian: minijatura
Czech: miniatura
Danish: miniature
Dutch: miniatuur
European Spanish: miniatura
Finnish: pienoismalli
French: miniature
German: Miniatur
Greek: μικρογραφία
Italian: miniatura
Japanese: ミニチュア
Korean: 축소 모형
Norwegian: miniatyr
Polish: miniatura
European Portuguese: miniatura
Romanian: miniatură
Russian: миниатюра
Latin American Spanish: miniatura
Swedish: miniatyr
Thai: ภาพวาดขนาดเล็กมาก
Turkish: minyatür
Ukrainian: мініатюра
Vietnamese: bức tiểu họa
Chinese translation of 'miniature'
miniature
(ˈmɪnətʃəʳ)
adj
微型的 (wēixíng de)
n(c)
(= painting) 微型画(畫) (wēixínghuà) (幅, fú)
(= bottle) 小瓶装(裝)的酒 (xiǎopíngzhuāng de jiǔ) (瓶, píng)
in miniature缩(縮)影的 (suōyǐng de)
(adjective)
Definition
much smaller than usual
The farm has been selling miniature roses since 1979.
Synonyms
small
She is small for her age.
little
We sat round a little table.
minute
Only a minute amount is needed.
baby
Serve with baby new potatoes.
reduced
tiny
Though she was tiny, she had a very loud voice.
pocket
toy
mini
wee
Fancy being so scared of a wee spider!
dwarf
dwarf shrubs
scaled-down
diminutive
a diminutive figure stood at the entrance
minuscule
reducing his handwriting to minuscule proportions
midget
an accompaniment of midget roast potatoes
teeny-weeny
Lilliputian
His vocabulary has shrunk to Lilliputian proportions.
teensy-weensy
pygmy or pigmy
Opposites
big
,
large
,
huge
,
great
,
giant
,
enormous
,
immense
,
enlarged
,
gigantic
,
oversize
,
ginormous (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of baby
Definition
comparatively small of its type
Serve with baby new potatoes.
Synonyms
small,
little,
minute,
tiny,
mini,
wee,
miniature,
dwarf,
diminutive,
petite,
midget,
teeny (informal),
pocket-sized,
undersized,
teeny-weeny (informal),
Lilliputian,
teensy-weensy (informal),
pygmy or pigmy
in the sense of diminutive
Definition
very small
a diminutive figure stood at the entrance
Synonyms
small,
little,
tiny,
minute,
pocket(-sized),
mini,
wee,
miniature,
petite,
midget,
undersized,
teeny-weeny,
Lilliputian,
bantam,
teensy-weensy,
pygmy or pigmy
in the sense of dwarf
Definition
(of an animal or plant) much below the average size for the species
dwarf shrubs
Synonyms
miniature,
small,
baby,
tiny,
pocket,
dwarfed,
diminutive,
petite,
bonsai,
pint-sized (informal),
undersized,
teeny-weeny,
Lilliputian,
teensy-weensy
Synonyms of 'miniature'
miniature
Explore 'miniature' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of Lilliputian
Definition
tiny
His vocabulary has shrunk to Lilliputian proportions.