miniature

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   being on a very small scale

   a miniature camera

2. 2
   noun

   A small version of something; a model of reduced scale.

   There was a miniature of a whaling ship in a glass bottle over the mantelpiece.

3. 3
   noun

   A small, highly detailed painting, a portrait miniature.

   The miniature was a picture of Leo's Greek mother - a lovely, dark-eyed creature.

4. 4
   noun

   A musical composition which is short in duration.

   Sacha composed a miniature for strings as a final project at the conservatory.

5. 5
   noun

   A token in a game representing a unit or character.

   Jack had dozens of miniatures of Napoleonic footsoldiers painted in detailed period regalia for his wargames.

6. 6
   noun

   A particular feature or trait.

   There's no miniature / In her fair face, but is a copious theme / Which would, discoursed at large of, make a volume.

7. 7
   adj

   Smaller than normal.

   I find miniature dogs annoying; they seem to yap more than full-size dogs.

8. 8
   verb

   To make smaller than normal; to reproduce in miniature.

   If it be ever so little removed, or seen thro’ the miniaturing End of the Perspective Glass, it either wholly escapes their Sight, or appears to them a mere Minutity.

Etymology

Etymology tree Latin miniumder. Italian minio Proto-Italic *-āzi ▲ Latin -ereinflu. Latin -āre Italian -are Italian miniare Proto-Indo-European *-tew-? Proto-Indo-European *-r-eh₂? Latin -tūra Italian -tura Italian miniaturabor. English miniature Borrowed from Italian miniatura (“manuscript illumination”), from miniare (“to illuminate”), from Latin miniō (“to colour red”), from minium (“red lead”).