Tiny vs. Minute — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on August 20, 2023
Tiny refers to a very small size, while minute emphasizes extreme smallness, often to the point of being almost insignificant.
Difference Between Tiny and Minute
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Tiny often describes something that is noticeably small in comparison to other objects of its kind. It’s a relative term and is commonly used in everyday language to describe size. On the other hand, minute, when not referring to time, accentuates the extreme smallness or fineness of something. It often suggests something is so small that it’s difficult to notice or discern.
Tiny is a term you might use to describe a small dog breed like a Chihuahua in comparison to larger breeds. It's an adjective that is readily understood in most contexts and doesn't necessarily emphasize an extreme. Minute, however, might be used to describe details or particles that are so small they might be overlooked or require close examination to be observed.
For objects that are small but still visible to the naked eye, tiny would be a fitting descriptor. If you're looking at grains of sand, for example, you might describe them as tiny when comparing them to larger objects. However, minute would be appropriate for aspects or details of those grains that might not be immediately apparent, like minute imperfections or components.
In a practical context, if someone offers you a tiny slice of cake, you'd still expect to have a piece you can eat with a few bites. But if they mention a minute amount of an ingredient in that cake, it might mean an amount so small that its taste or presence is barely detectable.
The use of tiny is more general and broader, suitable for physical objects of small size. Minute, however, leans more towards describing things that are so small or insignificant, they're almost beyond detection or are intricate.
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Comparison Chart
Focus
Relative smallness
Extreme, almost undetectable smallness
Common Usage
Describing noticeably small objects
Referring to details or almost invisible aspects
Nuance
General, doesn't stress extremeness
Emphasizes fineness or near insignificance
Examples
Tiny dog, tiny house
Minute details, minute particles
Frequency
Common in everyday language
Less frequent, more specific usage
Compare with Definitions
Tiny
Limited or negligible in amount.
She had a tiny smudge of ink on her finger.
Minute
Extremely small.
He noticed a minute scratch on the surface.
Tiny
Extremely small in size.
She wore a tiny pendant around her neck.
Minute
Precise or detailed.
She gave a minute description of the thief.
Tiny
Anything very small.
Minute
The memorandum; a record; a note to preserve the memory of anything; as, to take minutes of a contract; to take minutes of a conversation or debate; to read the minutes of the last meeting.
Tiny
Diminutive in stature or presence.
The actor had a tiny role in the film.
Minute
Concerning minor details.
They discussed the minute aspects of the contract.
Tiny
Very small
A tiny hummingbird
Minute
The minute is a unit of time usually equal to 1/60 (the first sexagesimal fraction) of an hour, or 60 seconds. In the UTC time standard, a minute on rare occasions has 61 seconds, a consequence of leap seconds (there is a provision to insert a negative leap second, which would result in a 59-second minute, but this has never happened in more than 40 years under this system).
Tiny
A very young child
Books that will make tinies and parents laugh out loud
Minute
A short interval of time; moment.
Tiny
Extremely small
The glass shattered into tiny shards that were hard to clean up.
Minute
A specific point in time
Stop that this minute!.
Tiny
Very small.
Minute
(obsolete) A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a whit.
Tiny
A small child; an infant.
Minute
Small in importance or significance.
The changes had only a minute effect on the results.
Tiny
Very small; little; puny.
When that I was and a little tiny boy.
Minute
A unit of time equal to one sixtieth of an hour, or 60 seconds.
Tiny
Very small;
Diminutive in stature
A lilliputian chest of drawers
Her petite figure
Tiny feet
The flyspeck nation of Bahrain moved toward democracy
Minute
A unit of angular measurement equal to one sixtieth of a degree, or 60 seconds. Also called arcminute, minute of arc.
Tiny
Insignificant or trivial.
His contribution to the project was tiny.
Minute
A measure of the distance one can cover in a minute
Lives ten minutes from school.
Tiny
Lesser in importance or impact.
The revisions made a tiny difference to the overall outcome.
Minute
A note or summary covering points to be remembered; a memorandum.
Minute
To record in a memorandum or the minutes of a meeting.
Minute
Not worthy of notice; insignificant
A minute problem.
Minute
A point in time; a moment.
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Minute
An old coin, a half farthing.
Minute
(architecture) A fixed part of a module.
Minute
A while or a long unspecified period of time
Oh, I ain't heard that song in a minute!
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
Minute
Very small.
They found only minute quantities of chemical residue on his clothing.
Minute
Very careful and exact, giving small details.
The lawyer gave the witness a minute examination.
Minute
The sixtieth part of an hour; sixty seconds. (Abbrev. m. or min.; as, 4 h. 30 m.
Four minutes, that is to say, minutes of an hour.
Minute
The sixtieth part of a degree; sixty seconds (Marked thus (´); as, 10° 20´).
Minute
A nautical or a geographic mile.
Minute
A coin; a half farthing.
Minute
A very small part of anything, or anything very small; a jot; a tittle.
Minutes and circumstances of his passion.
Minute
A point of time; a moment.
I go this minute to attend the king.
Minute
A fixed part of a module. See Module.
Minute
Of or pertaining to a minute or minutes; occurring at or marking successive minutes.
Minute
Very small; little; tiny; fine; slight; slender; inconsiderable; as, minute details.
Minute
A unit of time equal to 60 seconds or 1/60th of an hour;
He ran a 4 minute mile
Minute
An indefinitely short time;
Wait just a moment
It only takes a minute
In just a bit
Minute
A particular point in time;
The moment he arrived the party began
Minute
A unit of angular distance equal to a 60th of a degree
Minute
Immeasurably small
Minute
Characterized by painstaking care and detailed examination;
A minute inspection of the grounds
A narrow scrutiny
An exact and minute report
Minute
Short in duration.
I'll be back in a minute.
Minute
Exceptionally small; tiny.
Minute
Characterized by careful scrutiny and close examination
Held a minute inspection of the grounds.
Minute
A unit of time equal to sixty seconds (one-sixtieth of an hour).
You have twenty minutes to complete the test.
Minute
(informal) A short but unspecified time period.
Wait a minute, I’m not ready yet!
Minute
A unit of angle equal to one-sixtieth of a degree.
We need to be sure these maps are accurate to within one minute of arc.
Minute
A (usually formal) written record of a meeting or a part of a meeting.
Let’s look at the minutes of last week’s meeting.
Minute
A unit of purchase on a telephone or other similar network, especially a cell phone network, roughly equivalent in gross form to sixty seconds' use of the network.
If you buy this model, you’ll get 100 free minutes.
Minute
(transitive) Of an event, to write in a memo or the minutes of a meeting.
I’ll minute this evening’s meeting.
Minute
Attentive to small things; paying attention to details; critical; particular; precise; as, a minute observer; minute observation.
Minute
To set down a short sketch or note of; to jot down; to make a minute or a brief summary of.
The Empress of Russia, with her own hand, minuted an edict for universal tolerance.
Minute
A short note;
The secretary keeps the minutes of the meeting
Minute
Distance measured by the time taken to cover it;
We live an hour from the airport
Its just 10 minutes away
Minute
Infinitely or immeasurably small;
Two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm
Reduced to a microscopic scale
Common Curiosities
What does tiny typically refer to?
Tiny often describes something noticeably smaller than the average or expected size.
How is minute used differently from tiny?
Minute emphasizes something so small or detailed that it's almost insignificant or requires careful observation.
What does it mean when someone refers to minute details?
Minute details mean aspects or specifics that are so intricate or small they might be easily overlooked.
In what contexts is tiny most commonly found?
Tiny is frequently used in everyday language to describe objects, spaces, or quantities that are small in size.
Can the two words be used interchangeably?
While both refer to smallness, tiny is more general, while minute often stresses extreme fineness or detail.
Is tiny always about size?
While primarily referring to size, tiny can also imply lesser importance or significance in some contexts.
Is minute always about smallness?
No, minute can also refer to a measure of time, equivalent to sixty seconds.
Which word would be better to describe something barely visible?
Minute would be more appropriate for something so small it's almost beyond detection.
How do I choose between using tiny and minute in a sentence?
Consider the emphasis. Use tiny for general smallness and minute when emphasizing extreme smallness or detailed aspects.
Can minute also refer to time?
Yes, minute is also a unit of time, but in the context of smallness, it describes extreme or intricate details.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
