lilliputian Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a very small person (resembling a Lilliputian)
  2. noun a 6-inch tall inhabitant of Lilliput in a novel by Jonathan Swift
  3. adjective tiny; relating to or characteristic of the imaginary country of Lilliput
    • the Lilliputian population
  4. adjective satellite very small
    bantam; petite; diminutive; tiny; midget; flyspeck.
    • diminutive in stature
    • a lilliputian chest of drawers
    • her petite figure
    • tiny feet
    • the flyspeck nation of Bahrain moved toward democracy
  5. adjective satellite (informal) small and of little importance
    little; petty; footling; piffling; niggling; trivial; piddling; fiddling; picayune.
    • a fiddling sum of money
    • a footling gesture
    • our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war
    • a little (or small) matter
    • a dispute over niggling details
    • limited to petty enterprises
    • piffling efforts
    • giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction

WordNet


Lil`li*pu"tian noun
Definitions
  1. One belonging to a very diminutive race described in Swift's "Voyage to Lilliput."
  2. Hence: A person or thing of very small size.
Lil`li*pu"tian adjective
Definitions
  1. Of or having to the imaginary island of Lilliput described by Swift, or to its inhabitants.
  2. Hence: Of very small size; diminutive; dwarfed.

Webster 1913