miniature
gb/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ/ us/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ/
B1
English
~ 8500
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
entity
1
very small model or copy
A very small model or copy of something bigger, often made with a lot of detail.
Usage pattern:
a miniature of [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse the noun 'a miniature' with the adjective use, saying *'this is very miniature'* instead of 'this is very small' or 'this is a miniature model'. Use 'miniature' as a noun when it stands alone as 'a miniature (of something)'.
Synonyms
model (More general; does not always suggest very small size or high detail.)
|
replica (Stresses exact copying; can be any size, not only very small.)
Antonyms
full-size (Describes the normal, original size rather than a small copy.)
|
life-size (Stresses the same size as the real object or person, not a reduced copy.)
Collocations
a miniature of
|collect miniatures
|painted miniatures
|dollhouse miniatures
|miniature figures
Themes
arts
|hobbies
|daily_life
|arts_entertainment
|education
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The museum displayed a miniature of the ancient temple in the entrance hall.
- He built a detailed miniature of the ship using wood and paper.
- On her desk she kept a tiny glass miniature of the Eiffel Tower.
- The architect showed the client a scale miniature of the new shopping center.
- They sell painted miniatures for tabletop games at that store.
Learner examples
- The child played with a miniature of a train station.
- I bought a miniature of the old castle for my friend.
- This shop sells miniatures of famous buildings.
- We saw a miniature of the new bridge on the table.
- He makes small plastic miniatures of cars.
adjective
B1
property
2
much smaller than normal size
Much smaller than normal size; a tiny version of something.
Usage pattern:
a miniature [object]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'miniature' where 'small' or 'little' is more natural in everyday speech. 'Miniature' usually suggests a reduced version of something specific (a miniature car, a miniature city), not just any small thing.
Synonyms
tiny (More general and informal; does not always suggest a smaller version of something specific.)
|
small-scale (Often more technical or formal; can refer to size or to limited scope, not just physical dimensions.)
Antonyms
full-sized (Describes the normal or standard size version of something.)
|
huge (Emphasizes very large size, the opposite of very small.)
Collocations
miniature camera
|miniature horse
|miniature roses
|miniature toy
|miniature version
|miniature village
Themes
description
|size
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They built a miniature village in the park for visitors to explore.
- She keeps a miniature cactus on her office desk.
- The company released a miniature version of their popular speaker.
- He collects miniature cars and lines them up on his shelf.
- The children rode a miniature train that went around the garden.
Learner examples
- I bought a miniature camera that fits in my pocket.
- They have a miniature dog that looks like a small poodle.
- We walked through a miniature city at the theme park.
- She grows miniature roses on her balcony.
- He showed us a miniature version of the new phone.
Noun
B2
entity
3
small bottle of alcoholic drink
A very small bottle of alcohol that holds one drink, often found in hotel rooms or on airplanes.
Usage pattern:
a miniature of [a type of alcohol]
Common mistake:
Learners may think 'miniature' here means any small bottle. In this sense it usually refers specifically to alcohol, not to small bottles of water, shampoo, or other liquids.
Synonyms
nip (Used mainly in some varieties of English (e.g. British, Irish, Scottish); slightly informal.)
|
mini-bar bottle (Refers specifically to small bottles found in hotel mini-bars.)
Antonyms
full bottle (Refers to a normal-sized bottle of alcohol, not the small single-serving size.)
|
full-sized bottle (Emphasizes the standard size, opposite of the very small miniature bottle.)
Collocations
miniature bottles
|hotel miniatures
|a miniature of whisky
|duty-free miniatures
|gin miniatures
Themes
food_and_drink
|travel
|business
|food_drink
|daily_life
Examples
- The hotel charges high prices for the miniatures in the fridge.
- He bought a miniature of whisky at the airport to drink on the train.
- They gave each guest a miniature of champagne as a party favor.
- The cart offered coffee, soft drinks, and miniatures of brandy and gin.
- She collects old advertising miniatures from famous liquor brands.
Learner examples
- There are many miniatures of vodka in the hotel room.
- He opened a miniature of rum on the plane.
- I bought three miniatures of whisky at the shop.
- They sell miniatures of different drinks at the bar.
- She put the empty miniature back on the table.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
4
small detailed portrait painting
A very small, carefully painted picture of a person’s face and upper body, often from past centuries.
Usage pattern:
a miniature of [someone]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this with any small picture or photograph. In art history, a 'miniature' usually means a specific traditional form of small, detailed painting, often from earlier centuries.
Synonyms
portrait miniature (More technical; clearly marks this as an art term for small portraits.)
|
miniature painting (General art term; may include subjects other than portraits in some traditions.)
Antonyms
mural (A very large wall painting, opposite in typical size to a tiny miniature.)
|
large-scale painting (Emphasizes much larger dimensions, contrasting with the tiny format of a miniature.)
Collocations
portrait miniatures
|paint miniatures
|collection of miniatures
|eighteenth-century miniatures
|miniature portraits
Themes
arts
|history
|arts_entertainment
|relationships
|daily_life
Examples
- The gallery’s new exhibition focuses on eighteenth-century portrait miniatures.
- She inherited a tiny miniature of her great-grandmother set in a gold locket.
- The artist is known for delicate miniatures painted on ivory.
- Several royal miniatures were displayed alongside larger oil paintings.
- Conservators used a magnifying glass to clean the damaged miniature.
Learner examples
- We saw a miniature of a young king in the museum.
- The old ring has a miniature of a woman inside it.
- He studies miniatures from the seventeenth century.
- This book shows many small miniatures of famous people.
- The artist learned to paint very fine miniatures.
Noun
B2
entity
5
animal of very small breed
A horse, dog, or other animal that is from a very small kind of that animal.
Usage pattern:
a miniature of [animal breed]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think 'a miniature' in this sense can mean any small animal. It usually refers to a recognized very small breed, especially of horses, and is not used for random small animals.
Synonyms
miniature horse (Refers specifically to the horse breed, not to all small animals.)
|
toy breed (Used mainly for very small dogs; overlaps in meaning but is a technical kennel-club term.)
Antonyms
full-size horse (Refers to a normal-height horse, not the very small miniature.)
|
standard breed (Refers to the regular-sized version of an animal breed.)
Collocations
miniature horse
|miniatures and ponies
|show miniatures
|breed miniatures
|miniature cattle
Themes
animals
|hobbies
Examples
- They keep a few miniatures on their small farm alongside two full-size horses.
- Miniatures require different fencing because of their size.
- The breeder specializes in miniatures that are gentle with children.
- At the show, the ring for miniatures was separate from the pony classes.
- Miniatures can sometimes be kept in smaller fields than standard horses.
Learner examples
- She owns three miniatures and one big horse.
- Miniatures are easier to keep on a small farm.
- The boy rode a miniature at the fair.
- They bought a miniature for their children to learn to ride.
- Miniatures eat less food than normal horses.
Grammar
Dictionary form
miniature
IPA
GB/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ/
US/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ/
Syllables & stress
mini - ature (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (mini)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: miniature
Noun
- Base: miniature
- Plural: miniature, miniatures
Word family
Forms
miniatures
noun
Related words
miniaturize
verb
mini
noun A2
Advanced or less common
miniaturization
noun
miniaturist
noun
Expressions
in miniature
1/ˈɪn mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ/
fixed phrase
in a much smaller version
In a form that is much smaller than usual, but with the same main parts or features.
Examples
- The model shows the whole city in miniature.
- The garden is like a rainforest in miniature, with tiny trees and a small waterfall.
- This classroom is society in miniature, with many different personalities and backgrounds.
miniature golf
1/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ ɡˈɑlf/
fixed phrase
small-scale fun golf game
A fun game like golf, played on a very small course with short holes and many simple obstacles, often at a park or amusement center.
Examples
- We played miniature golf with the kids on Saturday afternoon.
- There’s a miniature golf course next to the bowling alley.
- Miniature golf is a popular date activity in the summer.
miniature railway
1/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ ɹˈeɪlwˌeɪ/
fixed phrase
small passenger-carrying railway
A very small train line, usually in a park or at a tourist place, where people ride on small trains for fun.
Examples
- The park has a miniature railway that runs around the lake.
- Children lined up to ride the miniature railway through the gardens.
- He volunteers as a driver on the local miniature railway at weekends.
miniature schnauzer
1/mˈɪniət͡ʃˌʊɹ ʃnˈaʊzɚ/
fixed phrase
small breed of schnauzer dog
A small kind of schnauzer dog that is a recognized breed, with a beard and eyebrows and a size smaller than the standard schnauzer.
Examples
- They adopted a miniature schnauzer from the local shelter.
- Miniature schnauzers are known to be lively and intelligent dogs.
- Her miniature schnauzer barks whenever someone comes to the door.