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| less [ less ] CORE MEANING: a grammatical word used to indicate a smaller amount of something |
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1. adjective smaller amount: a smaller amount or proportion of something
  New cars tend to emit less air pollution.
Last month less of her salary was taken up with household expenses.
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2. adverb to smaller degree: to a smaller extent or degree
Demanding? I've never known a less demanding patient!
I see her much less than I used to.
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3. preposition minus: indicating that a number or amount is subtracted from a previously mentioned number or amount
Total: $500, less $50 expenses.
I earned $45,000 last year, less tax and insurance.
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| [ Old English lǣssa< Germanic] |
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less than not having a particular quality
Her whole attitude toward me has been less than pleasant.
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much or still or even less emphasizing that something is done or happens to a smaller extent than something mentioned in the previous statementused after a negative statement
She could not fix her attention on any object or feel sensations, much less have conscious thoughts.
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no less used to express surprise or admirationoften used ironically
He had borrowed money at Homburg from no less a person than Lord Montbarry.
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