miniature

[min-ee-uh-cher, -choo r, min-uh-cher] /ˈmɪn i ə tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər, ˈmɪn ə tʃər/
noun
1.
a representation or image of something on a small or reduced scale.
2.
a greatly reduced or abridged form or copy.
3.
a very small painting, especially a portrait, on ivory, vellum, or the like.
4.
the art of executing such a painting.
5.
an illumination in an illuminated manuscript or book.
adjective
6.
being, on, or represented on a small scale; reduced.
Idioms
7.
in miniature, in a reduced size; on a small scale:
The zoo exhibition offered a jungle in miniature.
Origin
1580-90; < Italian miniatura miniature painting < Medieval Latin miniātūra, equivalent to miniāt(us) (see miniate) + -ūra -ure; sense development perhaps influenced by Latin base min- (see mini-, minor)
Related forms
superminiature, adjective
Synonyms
6. minute, microscopic, diminutive, tiny, minuscule.
Examples from the web for miniature
  • It was a little miniature thing, not good for cooking much of anything.
  • It's the closest thing to owning a miniature tiger without inventing a shrink ray.
  • And miniature circuses complete with tiny hoops for tinier elephants.
  • It is a thing unto itself: an imposing miniature and a miracle of proportion.
  • The fascination of craftsmanship on a miniature scale is universal, attracting the sophisticated and unsophisticated alike.
  • Kneeling down, he started slowly rocking the sled back and forth, watching the miniature waves.
  • Look at pictures and download miniature horse wallpaper.
  • miniature golf can be a lot of fun, and it is even better if the course is decorated with dinosaurs.
  • miniature water plants fill these ceramic cache pots.
  • There are miniature ones, medium-sized ones and traditional tall ones.
British Dictionary definitions for miniature

miniature

/ˈmɪnɪtʃə/
noun
1.
a model, copy, or similar representation on a very small scale
2.
anything that is very small of its kind
3.
a very small painting, esp a portrait, showing fine detail on ivory or vellum
4.
a very small bottle of whisky or other spirits, which can hold 50 millilitres
5.
an illuminated letter or other decoration in a manuscript
6.
in miniature, on a small scale: games are real life in miniature
adjective
7.
greatly reduced in size
8.
on a small scale; minute
Word Origin
C16: from Italian, from Medieval Latin miniātūra, from miniāre to paint red, (in illuminating manuscripts); from minium
Word Origin and History for miniature
n.

1580s, "a reduced image," from Italian miniatura "manuscript illumination or small picture," from past participle of miniare "to illuminate a manuscript," from Latin miniare "to paint red," from minium "red lead," used in ancient times to make red ink, a word said to be of Iberian origin. Sense development is because pictures in medieval manuscripts were small, but no doubt there was influence as well from the similar-sounding Latin words that express smallness: minor, minimus, minutus, etc.

adj.

"small," 1714, from minature (n.). Of dog breeds, from 1889. Of golf, from 1893.