Miniature
ˈmɪnɪtʃər
Definitions
2 meaningsExtremely small in size; a smaller version of something.
ˈmɪnɪtʃər
Very small; much smaller than usual.
The artist created a miniature replica of the Eiffel Tower.
💡 Simply: Imagine something, like a toy car or a tiny house, but way, way smaller than the real thing. Like a dollhouse compared to a real house!
👶 For kids: Something really, really small!
More Examples
She admired the miniature garden in her backyard.
The museum displayed a miniature dinosaur exhibit.
How It's Used
"A miniature painting adorned the wall."
"The child loved playing with miniature cars."
"He used a miniature camera to capture the tiny insects."
A small painting, usually a portrait, executed with great detail.
ˈmɪnɪtʃər
A very small painting or portrait.
The miniature was kept in a velvet-lined box.
💡 Simply: It's like a small, detailed painting, often of a person's face. They were popular back in the day, like tiny photo albums!
👶 For kids: A tiny picture, like a really small painting.
More Examples
The collector specialized in antique miniatures.
The artist spent months working on a miniature of the queen.
How It's Used
"The museum featured an exhibit of exquisite miniatures from the 18th century."
"She inherited a collection of family miniatures from her grandmother."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
in miniature
On a small scale, or as a small version of something.
"The city was presented in miniature at the architectural exhibition."
From the Latin word 'minium' (red pigment, used in illuminating manuscripts), and the Italian 'miniatura' (the art of illumination), the term evolved to describe small-scale art and then extended to anything small.
Historically, miniatures were often painted on ivory or vellum, popular as portraiture in the 16th-19th centuries.
Memory tip
Think of a tiny, petite version of something you know.
Word Origin
"From 'minium' (red pigment), and later referring to small scale depictions and objects. "