minimal
/ˈmɪnɪm(ə)l
/adjective
1Of a minimum amount, quantity, or degree; negligible: the aircraft suffered minimal damage production costs are minimal...
- It's just a shame that they did not see fit to at least include a minimal amount of this information on the disc.
- While I scanned the place, Ryan asked me some questions which I answered with the minimal amount of information.
- The worm is spreading modestly and causing only a minimal amount of damage.
Synonyms
very little, minimum, the smallest amount of;
slightest, least, least possible, minutest, tiniest, littlest;
nominal, token, negligible, next to no
2 Art Characterized by the use of simple forms or structures, especially geometric or massive ones.His career did not take off until the early 1960s, when he turned to sculpture and became one of the leading exponents of minimal art....
- Agnes Martin's austerely minimal grid paintings made a profound impression on him.
- In the first two rooms of the gallery, Samson Mudzunga presents a minimal show that somehow suits his enigmatic nature.
2.1Characterized by simplicity and lack of adornment or decoration: minimal, simple evening dresses in luxurious fabrics...
- The minimal cover lines, a minimalist Jason Wu frock, minimalist makeup: all a class act.
- But that artist's work was so minimal that Michelangelo was able to fashion a figure, ultimately, of his creation.
- Light and exquisitely crafted and delicate jewellery with smooth curves and floral designs in geometric forms made with minimal metal look and set with tiny crystals have been specially designed.
3 Music Characterized by the repetition and gradual alteration of short phrases.Some of the pieces were minimal phrases, and the players would improvise over it many times....
- And by the sound of it, he wants the music to stay minimal, yet supremely intense and evocative.
- It is a reminder of how revolutionary their fast, loud and minimal music initially was.
4 Linguistics (Of a pair of forms) distinguished by only one feature: ‘p’ and ‘b’ are a minimal pair, distinguished by the feature of voicing...
- In Jamaican Creole, tone is lexical in a few minimal pairs.
- a minimal pair in one language or dialect may not be a minimal pair in another one.
Origin
Mid 17th century: from Latin minimus 'smallest' + -al.