1. plural of minimal; things that are reduced to the smallest possible amount, degree, or extent
Usage: often used in art, design, and music contexts; can refer to minimalist artworks or compositions
2. in linguistics and phonology, the smallest units of sound that distinguish meaning in a language
Usage: technical term; also called phonemes in some contexts

Examples

• The gallery displayed several minimals created by contemporary artists.
• The composer's latest work features minimals of sound and silence.
• In minimalist design, minimals are preferred over ornate decorations.
• The architect reduced the building's features to essential minimals.
• Linguists study minimals to understand how languages distinguish words.