n. [ F. minime, L. minimus the least, smallest, a superl. of minor: cf. It. minima a note in music. See Minor, and cf. Minimum. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Anything very minute; as, the minims of existence; -- applied to animalcula; and the like. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The smallest liquid measure, equal to about one drop; the sixtieth part of a fluid drachm, equal to one four-hundred-eightieth of a fluid ounce, or 0.06161 milliliter (U. S. measure) or 0.05919 milliliters (British measure). [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

3. (Zool.) A small fish; a minnow. [ Prov. Eng. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

4. A little man or being; a dwarf. [ Obs. ] Milton. [ 1913 Webster ]

5. (Eccl. Hist.) One of an austere order of mendicant hermits or friars founded in the 15th century by St. Francis of Paola. [ 1913 Webster ]

6. (Mus.) A time note, formerly the shortest in use; a half note, equal to half a semibreve, or two quarter notes or crotchets. [ 1913 Webster ]

7. A short poetical encomium. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Minute. “Minim forms.” J. R. Drake. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of, pertaining to, or having a character of, a minim or minimum; least; smallest; as, a minimal amount or value. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. [ Prob. corrupt. of moniment. ] A trifle; a trinket; a token. [ Obs. ] Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. minimization. [ Chiefly Brit. ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The act or process of minimizing. Bentham. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. minimized p. pr. & vb. n. minimizing ] 1. To reduce to the smallest part or proportion possible; to reduce to a minimum. Bentham. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To represent, to oneself or others, as of no importance or minimal importance or effect; to belittle or disarage. [ PJC ]

adj. Reduced to the smallest possible size or amount or degree. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n.; pl. Minima [ L., fr. minimus. See Minim. ] The least quantity assignable, admissible, or possible, in a given case; hence, a thing of small consequence; -- opposed to maximum. [ 1913 Webster ]

Minimum thermometer, a thermometer for recording the lowest temperature since its last adjustment. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Minimi [ L. See Minim. ] 1. A being of the smallest size. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Anat.) The little finger; the fifth digit, or that corresponding to it, in either the manus or pes. [ 1913 Webster ]

de minimis or
de minimus a.of trifling consequence or importance; too insignificant to be worthy of concern; -- a reference to the phrase de minimis non curat lex. --
de minimis non curat lex [ Latin ] The law does not concern itself with trifles; -- a principle of law, that even if a technical violation of a law appears to exist according to the letter of the law, if the effect is too small to be of consequence, the violation of the law will not be considered as a sufficient cause of action, whether in civil or criminal proceedings. [ PJC ]