miniature

UK: /ˈmɪnɪtʃə^r/

US: /ˈmɪniətʃɚ, ˈmɪnətʃɚ/

US: (min′ē ə chər, -chŏŏr′, min′ə chər)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

min•i•a•ture /ˈmɪniətʃɚ, ˈmɪnətʃɚ/   n. [countable]

1. a copy of something on a small scale.
2. something small of its class or kind.
3. Fine Art a very small painting, esp. on ivory.

adj. [before a noun]

4. represented on a small scale:
   a miniature poodle.

Idioms

5. Idioms in miniature, of a reduced size;
   on a small scale.

min•i•a•tur•ist, n. [countable] See -min-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

min•i•a•ture  (min′ē ə chər, -chŏŏr′, min′ə chər), n. 

1. a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.
2. a greatly reduced or abridged form or copy.
3. Fine Art a very small painting, esp. a portrait, on ivory, vellum, or the like.
4. Fine Art the art of executing such a painting.
5. an illumination in an illuminated manuscript or book.
6. Idioms in miniature, in a reduced size;
   on a small scale:
   The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.

adj. 

7. Dog and Cat Breeds being, on, or represented on a small scale;
   reduced.

• Medieval Latin miniātūra, equivalent. to miniāt(us) (see miniate) + -ūra -ure; sense development perh. influenced by Latin base min- (see mini-, minor)
• Italian miniatura miniature painting
• 1580–90

Synonyms

• 7. minute, microscopic, diminutive, tiny, minuscule.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

miniature / 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. an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript
5. in miniature ⇒ on a small scale

adjective

1. greatly reduced in size
2. on a small scale; minute

Etymology: 16th Century: from Italian, from Medieval Latin miniātūra, from miniāre to paint red, (in illuminating manuscripts); from minium