Definition of: diminutive

(di·min′yə·tiv) adjective
1. Of relatively small size; small; little.
2. Diminishing or tending to diminish.
3. Expressing diminished size: said of certain suffixes.
—noun
1. A word formed from another to express diminished size, or familiarity, affection, etc.: Johnny is a diminutive of John, Tom of Thomas, etc. Abbr. dim.
2. Anything very small; a very small variety or form of anything. See synonyms under LITTLE, MINUTE.