adj.
of a much smaller size than normal.
n.
- a thing that is much smaller than normal.
▸a very small bottle of spirits.
▸a very small and minutely detailed painting, especially a portrait.
- a picture or decorated letter in an illuminated manuscript.
Derivative
- miniaturist n.
- miniaturization
or miniaturisation n. - miniaturize
or miniaturise v.
Etymology
C16: from Ital. miniatura, via med. L. from L. miniare ‘rubricate’, from minium ‘red lead, vermilion’ (used to mark particular words in manuscripts).
