mini

[min-ee] /ˈmɪn i/
noun
1.
miniskirt.
2.
a minicomputer.
3.
anything of a small, reduced, or miniature size.
adjective
4.
of the length of a miniskirt.
Origin
independent use of mini-, or by shortening of words with mini- as initial element

mini-

1.
a combining form with the meanings “of a small or reduced size in comparison with others of its kind” (minicalculator; minicar; minigun); “limited in scope, intensity, or duration” (miniboom; minicourse; minirecession); (of clothing) “short, not reaching the knee” (minidress; miniskirt).
Origin
by shortening of miniature, minimal, or minimum
Examples from the web for mini
  • mini unveiled its first two-seater today, a fun little box on wheels aimed at enthusiastic drivers.
  • Now you can do a mini-movie or a short with a beginning, middle and end.
  • These commercials are now mini-brands,and the more exposure they get, the better.
  • Sidebar mini games available on the site teach scientific concepts that can be used to help solve the larger mystery.
  • mini-deadlines and friendly, but annoying colleagues seem to work for me.
  • We are left with a reception hall full of excellent beef tenderloin mini-sandwiches and many, many bottles of champagne.
  • But then they could all form their own little mini-communities within the course.
  • Economics is their tincture for nearly every ill: create mini-markets for everything and watch our problems evaporate.
  • Even establishments called coffee shops are essentially mini hawker centers.
  • And so this mini-band of brothers-unsmiling, unidentified, but all too recognizable-continues to grow.
British Dictionary definitions for mini

mini

/ˈmɪnɪ/
adjective
1.
(of a woman's dress, skirt, etc) very short; thigh-length
2.
(prenominal) small; miniature
noun (pl) minis
3.
something very small of its kind, esp a small car or a miniskirt

mini-

combining form
1.
smaller or shorter than the standard size: minibus, miniskirt
Word Origin
C20: from miniature and minimum
Word Origin and History for mini
n.

1961, abbreviation of mini-car, a small car made by British Leyland (formerly British Motor Corp.). As an abbreviation of miniskirt, it is attested from 1966. The vogue for mini- as a prefix in English word coinage dates from c.1960.

mini-

word-forming element meaning "miniature, minor," abstracted from miniature, with sense perhaps influenced by minimum.

mini in Medicine

mini- pref.
Small; miniature: minilaparotomy.

Slang definitions & phrases for mini

mini

adjective

: She looked out of place in her mini dress

noun
  1. A very short dress, skirt, or coat ending well above the knee
  2. The fashion or style of wearing such short garments (1965+)

mini

-prefix

used to form nouns Small; miniature; short: minibus/ minicab/ minivan/ minicam/ minishegoss or meshugas) Craziness; absurdities: a mishegoss of mixed-up crap/ and free-lance mishigas/ Mailer's old meshugas about cancer

[1890s+; fr Yiddish fr Hebrew]


mini-

prefix

used to form nouns Small; miniature; short: minibus/minicab/minivan/minicam/mininuke/minisemester/miniskirt

[late 1930s+; fr miniature]