Adjacent Words

Miniature definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

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.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

adj
1: being on a very small scale; "a miniature camera" n
1: painting or drawing included in a book (especially in illuminated medieval manuscripts) [syn: miniature, illumination]
2: a copy that reproduces a person or thing in greatly reduced size [syn: miniature, toy]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun Etymology: Italian miniatura art of illuminating a manuscript, from Medieval Latin, from Latin miniatus, past participle of miniare to color with minium, from minium red lead Date: circa 1586 1. a. a copy on a much reduced scale b. something small of its kind 2. a painting in an illuminated book or manuscript 3. the art of painting miniatures 4. a very small portrait or other painting (as on ivory or metal) • miniaturist noun • miniaturistic adjective II. adjective Date: 1714 being or represented on a small scale Synonyms: see small

Oxford Reference Dictionary

adj., n., & v. --adj. 1 much smaller than normal. 2 represented on a small scale. --n. 1 any object reduced in size. 2 a small-scale minutely finished portrait. 3 this branch of painting (portrait in miniature). 4 a picture or decorated letters in an illuminated manuscript. --v.tr. represent on a smaller scale. Phrases and idioms: in miniature on a small scale. miniature camera a camera producing small negatives. Derivatives: miniaturist n. (in senses 2 and 3 of n.). Etymology: It. miniatura f. med.L miniatura f. L miniare rubricate, illuminate f. L minium red lead, vermilion

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Miniature Min"i*a*ture (?; 277), n. [It. miniatura, fr. L. miniare. See Miniate, v.,Minium.] 1. Originally, a painting in colors such as those in medi[ae]val 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Miniature Min"i*a*ture, a. Being on a small; much reduced from the reality; as, a miniature copy.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Miniature Min"i*a*ture, v. t. To represent or depict in a small compass, or on a small scale.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(miniatures) 1. Miniature is used to describe something which is very small, especially a smaller version of something which is normally much bigger. ...miniature roses... He looked like a miniature version of his handsome and elegant big brother. ADJ: ADJ n 2. If you describe one thing as another thing in miniature, you mean that it is much smaller in size or scale than the other thing, but is otherwise exactly the same. Ecuador provides a perfect introduction to South America; it's a continent in miniature... PHRASE: usu n PHR, PHR after v 3. A miniature is a very small detailed painting, often of a person. N-COUNT 4. A miniature is a very small bottle of strong alcohol such as whisky or brandy, and usually contains enough for one or two drinks. N-COUNT

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. n. Small portrait, reduced scale. II. a. Little, small, diminutive, tiny.

Moby Thesaurus

Elzevir, Lilliputian, abstract, abstraction, altarpiece, baby, baby-sized, bantam, banty, block print, collage, color print, compact, companion, copy, cursory, cyclorama, daub, dead ringer, depthless, diminutive, diptych, doll, double, duodecimo, duplicate, dwarf, effigy, engraving, exact likeness, fellow, few, footling, fresco, handy, head, icon, idol, illumination, illustration, image, inconsequential, inconsiderable, insignificant, itty-bitty, likeness, lilliputian, little, living image, living picture, low, match, mate, meager, micro, microcosm, microscopic, midget, mini, miniaturized, minikin, minimal, minny, minuscule, minute, mirroring, model, montage, mosaic, mural, negligible, no great shakes, panorama, petty, photograph, picayune, picayunish, picture, pocket, pocket edition, pocket-sized, pony, portrait, portraiture, portrayal, print, profile, puppet, pygmy, reflection, representation, reproduction, resemblance, rubbing, semblance, shadow, shallow, short, silhouette, similitude, simulacrum, skin-deep, small, small-scale, spit and image, spitting image, stained glass window, stencil, still life, subminiature, superficial, tableau, tapestry, teeny, teeny-weeny, tiny, toy, trace, tracing, trifling, triptych, trivial, twelvemo, twin, very image, very picture, vest-pocket, wall painting, wee, weeny