mini

a combining form with the meanings “of a small or reduced size in comparison with others of its kind” (minicalculator; minicar; minigun ); “limited in scope, intensity, or duration” (miniboom; minicourse; minirecession ); (of clothing) “short, not reaching the knee” (minidress; miniskirt ).

Origin:
by shortening of miniature, minimal, or minimum

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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Collins

World English Dictionary

mini (ˈmɪnɪ)

—*adj*
1.	(of a woman's dress, skirt, etc) very short; thigh-length
2.	(prenominal) small; miniature

—n , minis
3.	something very small of its kind, esp a small car or a miniskirt

mini-

—*combining form*
	smaller or shorter than the standard size: minibus; miniskirt

[C20: from miniature and minimum]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline

Word Origin & History

mini

1961, abbreviation of mini-car, a small car made by British Leyland (formerly British Motor Corp.). As an abbreviation of mini-skirt, it is attested from 1966. The vogue for mini- as a prefix dates from the 1960s.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage

Medical Dictionary

mini- pref.
Small; miniature: minilaparotomy.

Slang Dictionary

mini definition

[ˈmɪni]

mod.
small; miniature. : I have a mini problem you can maybe help me with.
n.
a miniskirt. : I look pretty good in a mini.

Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Example sentences

And although property managers could buy their own mini weather stations, those were less reliable.

Organic-produce markets and mini film festivals are all part of the program for this colossal amphitheater.

Harnessed up and ready to dive, the fat penguin looks as though it has its own mini scuba tank.

We are left with a reception hall full of excellent beef tenderloin

mini-sandwiches and many, many bottles of champagne.

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Related Words

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