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Webster 1913 Edition


Miniature

Min′i-a-ture

(?; 277)
,
Noun.
[It.
miniatura
, fr. L.
miniare
. See
Miniate
,
Verb.
,
Minium
.]
1.
Originally, a painting in colors such as those in mediaeval manuscripts; in modern times, any very small painting, especially a portrait.
2.
Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.
3.
Lettering in red; rubric distinction.
[Obs.]
4.
A particular feature or trait.
[Obs.]
Massinger.

Min′i-a-ture

,
Adj.
Being on a small scale; much reduced from the reality;
as, a
miniature
copy
.

Min′i-a-ture

,
Verb.
T.
To represent or depict in a small compass, or on a small scale.

Webster 1828 Edition


Miniature

MIN'IATURE

, n.
1.
A painting in water colors on vellum, ivory or paper, with points or dots; sometimes in oil colors. The term is usually applied to portraits painted on a very small scale.
2.
A picture or representation in a small compass, or less than the reality.
3.
Red letter; rubric distinction.

Definition 2024


miniature

miniature

English

Wikiquote

In the back of Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait a miniature reflection of the scene is painted, and, surrounding it, even smaller miniatures of Christ

Noun

miniature (plural miniatures)

  1. Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.
  2. A small version of something; a model of reduced scale.
    There was a miniature of a whaling ship in a glass bottle over the mantlepiece.
  3. A small, highly detailed painting, a portrait miniature.
  4. The art of painting such highly detailed miniature works.
  5. An illustration in an illuminated manuscript.
  6. A musical composition which is short in duration.
    Sacha composed a miniature for strings as a final project at the conservatory.
  7. (role-playing games, board games) 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.
  8. Lettering in red; rubric distinction.
  9. A particular feature or trait.
    • 1627, Massinger, Philip, The Great Duke of Florence”, in Gifford, William, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, Act 5, Scene 3, published 1845, page 221:
      There's no miniature / In her fair face, but is a copious theme / Which would, discoursed at large of, make a volume.

Translations

Derived terms

Adjective

miniature (comparative more miniature, superlative most miniature)

  1. Smaller than normal.
    • 2013 September 6, Alok Jha, Miniature brains grown in lab”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 13, page 39:
      Scientists have grown miniature human brains in test tubes, creating a "tool" that will allow them to watch how the organs develop in the womb and, they hope, increase their understanding of neurological and mental problems. Just a few millimetres across, the "cerebral organoids" are built up of layers of brain cells with defined regions that resemble those seen in immature, embryonic brains.
    I find miniature dogs annoying; they seem to yap more than full-size dogs.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

miniature (third-person singular simple present miniatures, present participle miniaturing, simple past and past participle miniatured)

  1. (transitive) To make smaller than normal; to reproduce in miniature.

French

Noun

miniature f (plural miniatures)

  1. miniature

Italian

Noun

miniature f

  1. plural of miniatura

Anagrams