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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

Noun

miniature ‎(plural miniatures)

1. Greatly diminished size or form; reduced scale.
2. 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.

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

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

7. (role-playing games, board games) A token in a game representing a unit or character.

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

8. Lettering in red; rubric distinction.
9. A particular feature or trait.
   • 1627, Massinger, Philip, “The Great Duke of Florence”, in Gifford, William, editor, The Plays of Philip Massinger, Act 5, Scene 3, published 1845, page 221:

     There's no miniature / In her fair face, but is a copious theme / Which would, discoursed at large of, make a volume.

Translations

Derived terms

• miniaturist

Adjective

miniature ‎(comparative more miniature, superlative most miniature)

1. Smaller than normal.
   • 2013 September 6, Alok Jha, “Miniature brains grown in lab”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 13, page 39:

     Scientists have grown miniature human brains in test tubes, creating a "tool" that will allow them to watch how the organs develop in the womb and, they hope, increase their understanding of neurological and mental problems. ¶ Just a few millimetres across, the "cerebral organoids" are built up of layers of brain cells with defined regions that resemble those seen in immature, embryonic brains.

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

Derived terms

• miniature poodle
• miniaturism

Translations

Verb

miniature ‎(third-person singular simple present miniatures, present participle miniaturing, simple past and past participle miniatured)

1. (transitive) To make smaller than normal; to reproduce in miniature.

French

Noun

miniature f ‎(plural miniatures)

1. miniature

Italian

Noun

miniature f

1. plural of miniatura

Anagrams

• minuteria
• ruminiate