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Words, grammatical forms and meanings linked to the ontology.

teeny en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /ˈtiː.ni/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈti.ni/ (General-American)

Etymology

Alteration of tiny, possibly with a childish or fanciful intention. First attested in 1825.

Meanings

  1. (informal) Very small; tiny.

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
teenier Degree=Cmp lexicographic
teeniest Degree=Sup lexicographic

Deriveds

teeny weeny · teeny-tiny

Synonyms

wurly · small · slight · modest · compact · low · fun-sized · petty · ickle · fun size · little · pocket-size · lit'l · mini · wee · pint-sized · undersized · small-scale · slim · insignificant

Translations (5)

svm poppet (informal: very small) · fi pikkiriikkinen (informal: very small) · fr tout petit (informal: very small) · it piccolo piccolo (informal: very small) · pdt grennauzje (informal: very small)

teeny en · NOUN · etymology 2

Pronunciation

  • (US) audio
  • /ˈtiː.ni/ (Received-Pronunciation)
  • /ˈti.ni/ (General-American)

Etymology

From teen + -y or a clipping of teenybopper.

Meanings

  1. (colloquial, rare) A teenager; a teenybopper.
    • We just moved to Belgium, my husband is a naval architect and was sailing and designing sailing yachts since years, I was sailing smaller boats since I was a teeny, both are very interested to get back into active sailing. 1999 July 21, Denise Grauzinis, “want to be crew”, in alt.sailing.boats.crew (Usenet), archived from the original on 01 Apr 2026:
    • ahh there we go with that "most teenager"^([sic]) crap again. Its been a while since I was a teeny, but I've met a lot of teens that are a lot more mature than adults I know that are in their 30's and 40's even. Come on with the generalizations already.. do you say thing^([sic]) like "what do you expect from mexicans" too?? 2000 March 15, Ratbert, “Fucking Idiots Who Shouldn't Be Playing This Game”, in alt.games.everquest (Usenet), archived from the original on 01 Apr 2026:
    • When I was a teeny in the late 80s, I like^([sic]) 50s/60s music like that which you listed below as well as the Beatles. I simply found it fun and easier on the ears than Madonna and Paula Abdul. 2000 December 9, Absolutely Cynthia Marie, “THE TYPE OF CRAP THAT WAS ON THE RADIO in the early Sixties”, in alt.fan.kinks (Usenet), archived from the original on 01 Apr 2026:

Forms

SpellingFeaturesLabelsSource
teenie alternative lexicographic
teenies Number=Plur lexicographic

Relateds

in · Dictionary.com · Springfield · 1996–present · teeny-bopper · Mass.: Merriam-Webster · 2019–2022 · Oxford University Press · “teeny · in · in · 2011–present · teenybopper · adj.”