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miniature

Syllabification: (min·i·a·ture)
Pronunciation: /ˈmin(ē)əCHər, -ˌCHo͝or/
Translate miniature | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of miniature

adjective

[attributive]
  • (especially of a replica of something) of a much smaller size than normal; very small:children dressed as miniature adults

noun

  • a thing that is much smaller than normal, especially a small replica or model.
  • a plant or animal that is a smaller version of an existing variety or breed.
  • a very small and highly detailed portrait or other painting.
  • a picture or decorated letter in an illuminated manuscript.

verb

[with object] rare
  • represent on a smaller scale; reduce to miniature dimensions.

Phrases

in miniature

on a small scale, but otherwise a replica:a place that is Greece in miniature

Origin:

early 18th century: from Italian miniatura, via medieval Latin from Latin miniare 'rubricate, illuminate', from minium 'red lead, vermilion' (used to mark particular words in manuscripts)

Remember that miniature is spelled with an a after the second i.

miniature in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of miniature in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

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