1. plural of lilliput; very small people or creatures, especially in a fanciful or imaginary context
Usage: often capitalized when referring to the fictional inhabitants of Lilliput in Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels; commonly used in lowercase as a general term for tiny beings or diminutive persons
2. small or insignificant things or matters
Usage: figurative use; less common than the primary sense

Examples

• In Swift's novel, Gulliver encounters the Lilliputs, a race of people only six inches tall.
• The children dressed up as lilliputs for the fantasy-themed costume party.
• The toy store displayed a collection of lilliputs and miniature figurines.
• She felt like a giant among the lilliputs when she visited the dollhouse exhibition.
• The conference dismissed the concerns as mere lilliputs compared to the major issues at hand.
• The artist created an entire landscape populated by tiny lilliputs made of clay.