■ adjective of a much smaller size than normal.
■ noun
1》 a thing that is much smaller than normal.
↘a very small bottle of spirits.
↘a very small and minutely detailed painting, especially a portrait.
2》 a picture or decorated letter in an illuminated manuscript.
Derivatives
miniaturist noun
miniaturization or miniaturisation noun
miniaturize or miniaturise verb
Origin
C16: from Ital. miniatura , via med. L. from L. miniare 'rubricate', from minium 'red lead, vermilion' (used to mark particular words in manuscripts).