I. less 1 S1 W1 /les/ BrE AmE adverb
1 . not so much or to a smaller degree OPP more :
Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation.
In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.
less (...) than
Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.
much/a lot/far less
Social class matters a lot less than it used to.
not ... any the less/no less (=not less)
Your second point is no less important.
It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing.
I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.
be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another)
‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.
2 . less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc:
He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.
3 . less and less used to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases OPP more and more :
As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation.
Smoking in the workplace is becoming less and less acceptable.
4 . much/still less used to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned:
These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume.
I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself.
II. less 2 S1 W1 BrE AmE determiner , pronoun
1 . a smaller amount or not as much OPP more :
Doctors recommend eating less salt.
People today seem to have less time for each other.
Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less.
less of
The map covered less of the area than I’d thought.
Flying is less of a risk than driving.
less (...) than
She knows less than I do about it.
less than 10/100 etc
a distance of less than 100 metres
much/a lot less
It costs much less to go by bus.
GRAMMAR
Less , not 'fewer', should be used before an uncountable noun:
▪
Less electricity is used.
► Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer , especially in writing:
▪
There are fewer delays (NOT less delays).
2 . no less
a) used to emphasize that an amount or number is large
no less than
By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil.
b) used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive:
Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.
The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.
3 . nothing less than something used to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is:
His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.
4 . less and less a decreasing amount of something OPP more and more :
They began spending less and less time together.
less and less of
The band was doing less and less of that kind of music.
5 . in less than no time very quickly or very soon:
In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.
6 . less of something British English spoken used to tell a child to stop doing something:
Less of that noise, please!
III. less 3 BrE AmE preposition formal
taking away or not including a particular amount SYN minus :
What is 121 less 36?
He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.