little

Study(24)

UK /ˈlɪ.tl̩/ US [ˈlɪ.ɾɫ̩]

adj 5noun 5name 3adv 2det 1

Collocations

ADJ.

better, common, done, earlier, faster, general, high, known

The problem is little better than it was last year, unfortunately.

VERB + LITTLE

asked, brought, come, get, give, hope, matter, model

We asked little of him except that he show up on time.

LITTLE + NOUN

brother, difficulty, fever, less, lunch, man, night, rabbit

My little brother helped me carry the groceries inside.

PREP.

about, during, in, in, off, than, up

During the meeting, there was little discussion about the new budget proposals.

ADV.

almost, only

She had almost little time to prepare for the exam before it started.

Definitions

adj

Small in size.

This is a little table.

It’s only a little way now.

Small in size.

"You are a little, little man," she proclaimed, staring obviously below my waist as she pronounced the second "little." It was almost disappointing. I'd heard that one before, but it still left a new scar each time.

Insignificant, trivial.

It’s of little importance.

Urania speaks with darken’d brow: ⁠‘Thou pratest here where thou art least; ⁠This faith has many a purer priest, And many an abler voice than thou: […]’

Insignificant, trivial.

Listen up, you little shit.

Very young, of childhood age.

Did he tell you any embarrassing stories about when she was little?

That’s the biggest little boy I’ve ever seen.

adv

Not much.

This is a little-known fact: the new model is little faster than the old one.

She spoke little and listened less.

Not at all.

Little did he know she never did like him, did he? - Certainly, he little knew what awaited him.

But then I had the [massive] flintlock by me for protection. ¶[…]The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…], and a ‘bead’ could be drawn upon Molly, the dairymaid, kissing the fogger behind the hedge, little dreaming that the deadly tube was levelled at them.

det

Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of).

There is (very) little water left.

We had very little to do.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

adjective — (informal) small and of little importance

adjective — limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude

small

adjective — (of a voice) faint

small

adjective — lowercase

adjective — (of children and animals) young, immature

small

adjective — low in stature

short

Antonyms

Idioms & Phrases

a little bird told me

I received the information from a source which I am not prepared to disclose.

Let’s just say I know because a little bird told me.

little emperor

In contemporary China, a child with no siblings who is regarded as overly protected and spoiled. (Seen as belonging to a generation which is a product of China's "one-child" policy.)

Chinese psychologists recently have also written extensively about the emergence of so-called little emperors—arrogant, spoiled children who grow up without siblings.

every little helps

Even small contributions towards a goal help bring the goal nearer.

"There's not much money - if that's what you mean." "Approximately." "Once all the debts are paid there will be very little." "Nevertheless. Every little helps. The Brothers are so

little pitchers have big ears

Small children often overhear more of what is said than adults realize or desire.

Seeing me listening to something she was saying to Mamma, she turned round upon me with that odious proverb, "Little pitchers have long ears."

little pitchers have long ears

Alternative form of little pitchers have big ears.

Example Bank

This is a little table.

Wiktionary

It’s only a little way now.

Wiktionary

"You are a little, little man," she proclaimed, staring obviously below my waist as she pronounced the second "little." It was almost disappointing. I'd heard that one before, but it still left a new

Wiktionary

This is a little-known fact: the new model is little faster than the old one.

Wiktionary

She spoke little and listened less.

Wiktionary

We slept very little last night.

Wiktionary

Usage Notes

i Register

In some senses, little is marked as offensive, informal. Watch for register when choosing this word.

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