miniature

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English [edit]

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 [edit]

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

Pronunciation [edit]

Noun [edit]

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 [edit]

a model of reduced scale
manuscript illustration
a musical composition which is short in duration
a token in a game representing a unit or character

Derived terms [edit]

Adjective [edit]

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 [edit]

Translations [edit]

smaller than normal

French [edit]

French Wikipedia has an article on:

Wikipedia fr

Noun [edit]

miniature f (plural miniatures)

  1. miniature

Italian [edit]

Noun [edit]

miniature f

  1. Plural form of miniatura

Anagrams [edit]

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