Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Miniature
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
copyMin′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
Noun
miniature (plural miniatures)
- Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.
- 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.
- A small, highly detailed painting, a portrait miniature.
- The art of painting such highly detailed miniature works.
- An illustration in an illuminated manuscript.
- A musical composition which is short in duration.
- Sacha composed a miniature for strings as a final project at the conservatory.
- (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.
- Lettering in red; rubric distinction.
- 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.
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Translations
a model of reduced scale
manuscript illustration
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a musical composition which is short in duration
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a token in a game representing a unit or character
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Derived terms
Adjective
miniature (comparative more miniature, superlative most miniature)
- 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.
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Derived terms
Translations
smaller than normal
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Verb
miniature (third-person singular simple present miniatures, present participle miniaturing, simple past and past participle miniatured)
- (transitive) To make smaller than normal; to reproduce in miniature.