# miniature

/ˈmɪniəˌtʃʊɹ/ (US) · /mˈɪnɪtʃɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/miniature
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a small model

noun · CEFR B2

a very small version or model of something that is usually much larger.

For teachers: a representation or model of something on a much smaller scale than the original.

- 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.

### 2. a small painting

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a tiny, very detailed painting, often a portrait of a person.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. gaming figure

noun · CEFR B2

a small plastic or metal figure used in board games or hobbies.

For teachers: 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.

### 4. very small

adjective · CEFR B2

much smaller than the usual size of its kind.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. to make smaller

verb · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

to make a very small copy or version of something.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- He collects miniatures of vintage cars.
- The museum features a detailed miniature of the city as it appeared in the eighteenth century.
- The artist specialized in miniatures, using a single-hair brush to capture the intricate lace patterns on the subject's collar within a frame no larger than a coin.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.