ˈlɪtl adj., n., & adv. --adj. (littler, littlest;
less or
lesser; least) 1
small in size,
amount,
degree,
etc.;
not great or
big:
often used to
convey affectionate or
emotional overtones, or
condescension, not implied by small (a
friendly little chap; a
silly little fool; a
nice little car). 2 a
short in
stature (a little man). b of short
distance or
duration (will go a little
way with you;
wait a little while). 3 (prec. by a) a
certain though small amount of (give me a little butter). 4
trivial; relatively
unimportant (exaggerates
every little difficulty). 5 not
much;
inconsiderable (gained little
advantage from it). 6 operating on a small scale (the little shopkeeper). 7 as a
distinctive epithet: a of a smaller or
the smallest size etc. (little finger). b
that is the smaller or smallest of the
name (little
auk; little grebe). 8
young or younger (a little
boy; my little sister). 9 as of a
child, evoking tenderness, condescension,
amusement, etc. (we
know their little ways). 10 mean,
paltry,
contemptible (you little sneak). --n. 1 not much;
only a small amount (got
very little
out of
it;
did what little I could). 2 (usu. prec. by a) a a certain but no great amount (knows a little of
everything; every little helps). b a short
time or distance (after a little). --adv. (less, least) 1 to a small
extent only (little-known authors; is little
more than speculation). 2 not at
all;
hardly (they little thought). 3 (prec. by a)
somewhat (is a little deaf). øin little on a small scale. the Little Bear see
BEAR(2). little by little by degrees; gradually. little
end the smaller end of a connecting-rod, attached to the
piston. little
finger the smallest finger, at the
outer end of the
hand. little
man esp. joc. (as a
form of address) a boy. little ones young
children or animals. little or
nothing hardly
anything. the little
people fairies. Little
Russian hist. n. a
Ukrainian. --adj. Ukrainian. little slam Bridge the
winning of 12 tricks. the little
woman colloq. often derog. one's
wife. no little
considerable, a
good deal of (took no little
trouble over it). not a little n. much; a great deal. --adv. extremely (not a little concerned). øølittleness n. [OE lytel f. Gmc]