Definitions
01a small model
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a very small version or model of something that is usually much larger.
n. a representation or model of something on a much smaller scale than the original.
Español:miniatura
“He built a perfect miniature of the historic ship inside a glass bottle.”
“The museum features a detailed miniature of the city as it appeared before the Great Fire, complete with tiny wooden houses and narrow streets.”
02a small painting
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a tiny, very detailed painting, often a portrait of a person.
n. a very small, highly detailed painting, typically a portrait, often executed on ivory or vellum.
“The locket contained a beautiful miniature of her great-grandmother.”
“The gallery's collection includes several sixteenth-century miniatures that demonstrate the incredible precision required for such small-scale portraiture.”
03gaming figure
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a small plastic or metal figure used in board games or hobbies.
n. a small-scale figure representing a character or unit, used in tabletop wargaming or role-playing games.
“He spends his weekends painting miniatures for his fantasy tabletop game.”
“The hobbyist meticulously painted each miniature in the army, ensuring the uniforms matched the historical descriptions of the Napoleonic era.”
04very small
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. much smaller than the usual size of its kind.
adj. being on a very small scale; greatly reduced in size from the norm.
“The hotel provides miniature bottles of shampoo and soap in every bathroom.”
“The chef prepared a selection of miniature desserts, allowing the guests to sample several different flavours in a single sitting.”
Synonyms
05to make smaller
C2 · Proficiency Formal · Technical
v. to make a very small copy or version of something.
v. to represent or produce something in a greatly reduced size.
“The artist tried to miniature the entire landscape onto a tiny canvas.”
“The project aimed to miniature the complex mechanical system into a portable device without losing any of its original functionality.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Miniature human organs and other tissues are to be grown from NHS patients’ cells in a drive to improve medicine testing and reduce the number of animals used in drug development.” “Another treasure in the collection for Val is a miniature school for little bears - she said she still remembers all the names she gave to the little pupils.” “From the code-speak of children's games to "miniature" languages designed in laboratories, all new forms of communication reveal something about our ability to learn and adopt new rules.” Etymology
Borrowed from Italian miniatura (“manuscript illumination”), from miniare (“to illuminate”), from Latin miniō (“to colour red”), from minium (“red lead”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/miniature
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0