I. ˈlid. ə l, -it ə l sometimes when not heavily stressed (ˌ)lil esp when a vowel follows adjective
( in sense 1 usually lit·tler -id. ə lə(r), -it( ə )l- ; usually lit·tlest -id. ə lə̇st, -it( ə )l- ; in senses 2 & 3 usually less ˈles ; or less·er ˈlesə(r) ; usually least ˈlēst)
Etymology: Middle English lutel, litel, littel, from Old English lȳtel; akin to Old English lȳt little, few, Old Saxon luttil small, miserable, Old High German luzzil little, Old Norse lūta to bow down, Gothic liuts hypocritical, Welsh lludded fatigue, Lithuanian liũsti to be sad
1. : not big : not great: as
a.
(1) : small in size : diminutive , tiny
has little feet
(2) : short in stature
a pompous little man
(3) : that has not attained the full growth of maturity
a little child
(4) : that is viewed as tiny or as short ; especially : that seems brief
had only a little month to wait
(5) : small in comparison with related forms — used in vernacular names (as of animals)
b. : small in number : comprising only a few individuals (as members or inhabitants)
a little group of people
a little herd of buffalo
a little village
c. : small in rank or condition : lacking distinction
little magistrates much occupied with picayune matters
big businessmen trampling on the little fellow
d. : contemptibly limited (as in scope or outlook) : paltry , mean , narrow
disgusted with the pettiness of little minds
e.
(1) : small in a way that arouses in the speaker or writer a feeling of tenderness, pity, or sympathy (as through real or supposed defenselessness)
my dear little mother
bless your little heart
stood there trying to warm her poor little hands
hurt his little knee
(2) : small or trivial in a way that amuses the speaker or writer (as by arousing a mood of playfulness or bantering)
what little game are you up to now
used to enjoy her little tricks
a funny little way of smiling
(3) : small in a way that arouses in the speaker or writer a feeling of exasperation or disapprobation (as through paltriness, meanness, deviousness)
couldn't stand her mean little accusations
know all about your little scheme
2. : not much: as
a. : that exists only in a small amount or to a slight or limited extent or degree
has little money
have little space to work in
little change for the better
: barely any : scanty
have little hope left
has little love for her
can do it with but little effort
b. : short in duration : brief
had little sleep
there is little time left
c. : that exists in or to an appreciable though not extensive amount, extent, or degree : some but not much — used with a
fortunately I still have a little money left
don't worry, you still have a little time
3. : small in importance or interest : trifling , trivial
mentioned a lot of little points that I found not worth attention
Synonyms: see small
II. adverb
( less “ ; least “)
Etymology: Middle English lutel, litel, littel, from Old English lȳtel, from lȳtel, adjective
1.
a. : to only a slight or limited extent or degree : not to any great extent or degree : only slightly : not much : not very much
said little more than what you already know
loved her little
a once popular writer who is now little heard from
facts that were little known at the time
b. : not at all : not in the least — used prepositively as an emphatic negative especially with a verb of knowing, thinking, believing, caring
he little knows or cares what may happen
2. : infrequently , rarely
has been seeing her very little
III. noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English lutel, litel, littel, from Old English lȳtel, from lȳtel, adjective
1. : something not very extensive (as in amount, quantity):
a.
(1) : a small amount or quantity
worked hard to earn what little he could
: not much
pointed out that little had been accomplished
(2) : only a small amount or quantity : something far short of everything : something constituting only a tiny fraction of all : practically nothing
lost most of her money and has to be satisfied with little of what life offers
remembered little of the past
knows little of what has happened
has learned to be happy with little
b. : an appreciable though not extensive amount or quantity : a considerable amount or quantity — used with preceding a
spent a lot of money but still has a little in the bank
2.
a. : a short time
after a little she glanced at him
stepped out into the garden for a little
will be back in a little
b. : a short distance
had traveled quite far and a little still remained to be covered
•
- a little
- by little and little
- in little