miniature

English

In the back of Jan van Eyck's Arnolfini Portrait a miniature reflection of the scene is painted, and, surrounding it, even smaller miniatures of Christ

A c. 1776 miniature of Henrietta, Viscountess Duncannon by John Downman

Etymology

From the Italian miniatura (manuscript illumination), from miniare (to illuminate), from the Latin miniāre (to colour red), from minium (red lead).

Pronunciation

• (Canada) IPA: /mɪnətʃɚ/

Noun

miniature (plural miniatures)

1. 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.

2. A small, highly detailed painting, a portrait miniature.
3. The art of painting such highly detailed miniature works.
4. An illustration in an illuminated manuscript.
5. A musical composition which is short in duration.

   Sacha composed a miniature for strings as a final project at the conservatory.

6. (gaming) A token in a game representing a unit or character.

   Jack had dozens of miniatures of Napoleanic footsoldiers painted in detailed period regalia for his wargames.

Translations

a model of reduced scale

Finnish: miniatyyri (fi) French: miniature (fr) f.

Italian: miniatura (it) f. Spanish: miniatura (es) f.

manuscript illustration

Dutch: miniatuur (nl) f. French: enluminure (fr) f.

Hungarian: miniatúra (hu)

a musical composition which is short in duration

a token in a game representing a unit or character

Finnish: miniatyyri (fi)

Derived terms

• miniaturist

Adjective

miniature (comparative more miniature, superlative most miniature)

1. Smaller than normal.

   I find miniature dogs annoying; they seem to yap more than full-size dogs.

Derived terms

• miniature poodle
• miniaturism

Translations

smaller than normal

Hebrew: הקטנה (he) (haktanah)

Hungarian: miniatűr (hu)

---

French

Wikipedia ^fr

Noun

miniature f. (plural miniatures)

1. miniature

---

Italian

Noun

miniature f.

1. Plural form of miniatura.

Anagrams

• minuteria
• ruminiate