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lit·tle [ lítt'l ] (comparative lit·tler, superlative lit·tlest) CORE MEANING: an adjective meaning "small" or "young," or a grammatical word indicating that something exists in small quantities
  (adj) It was only a very little mistake!
(adj) He was helping the little boy put on his boots.
(adj) I'll bring my little sister with me.
(adj) There was a little food left.
(adj) There was little chance of winning. |
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1. adjective small: small, or of less than average size
He gave her a little Christmas tree ornament.
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2. adjective young: not yet grown up
I met her when she was just a little girl.
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3. adjective younger: refers to a younger sister or brother
my little sister
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4. adjective small and pleasant: small in a pleasant or good-looking way
his cute little habits
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5. adjective short: short in duration, or executed quickly
gave a little smile
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6. adjective trivial: of no importance
the little things he does that bother me
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7. pron a little small quantity: a small amount of something
I only ate a little.
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8. adjective not much: only a very small amount
had little or no effect
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9. adverb hardly: hardly or not at all
little did they know
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10. adverb not often: on rare occasions
visiting them little
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| [ Old English lȳtel< Germanic, "small"] |
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| lit·tle·ness noun |
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little by little gradually or by small degrees
growing drowsy little by little
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no little considerable
ate with no little appetite
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not a little a lot
not a little embarrassed
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