n.
Pronunciation: ' mi-n ē - ə - ˌ chu ̇ r, ' mi-ni- ˌ chu ̇ r, ' min-y ə -, -ch ə r, - ˌ tyu ̇ r, - ˌ tu ̇ r
Function: noun
Etymology: Italian miniatura art of illuminating a manuscript, from Medieval Latin, from Latin miniatus, past participle of miniare to color with minium, from minium red lead
Date: circa 1586
1 a : a copy on a much reduced scale b : something small of its kind
2 : a painting in an illuminated book or manuscript
3 : the art of painting miniatures
4 : a very small portrait or other painting (as on ivory or metal)
– min · i · a · tur · ist \ - ˌ chu ̇ r-ist, -ch ə r-, - ˌ tyu ̇ r-, - ˌ tu ̇ r- \ noun
– min · i · a · tur · is · tic \ ˌ mi-n ē - ə -ch ə - ' ris-tik, ˌ mi-ni-, ˌ min-y ə -, - ˌ tyu ̇ -, - ˌ tu ̇ - \ adjective
– in miniature : in a greatly diminished size, form, or scale