Figurines

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. Small, decorative three-dimensional figures made from various materials are typically used for display or collection purposes
2. Ornamental mini sculptures that represent various entities, often found in homes, enhance aesthetic appeal and artistic arrangements
3. Tiny, crafted shapes often made from materials like ceramic or metal, designed for decoration or collection

Etymology: "Figurines" is the plural of "figurine," a small statue or model, typically decorative. The singular was borrowed into English from French, where "figurine" is formed from "figure" and the diminutive suffix "-ine." That suffix shrinks the base word, so a figurine is literally a little figure: a small, human-shaped image rather than a full-scale sculpture. The French "figure" itself traces back through Latin "figura," meaning shape or form, which is also the source of English "figure" in the sense of a shape or a body outline. So the word for a tiny carved or cast statue carries the same idea of outline and form that gives us phrases like "figure out" and a "figure" in geometry.

Synonyms: statues, figurals, models