Nearby Words
adjective, a superl. of little with less or lesser as compar.
1.
smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.; slightest: He gave the least amount of money of anyone.
2.
lowest in consideration, position, or importance.
noun
3.
something that is least; the least amount, quantity, degree, etc.
4.
South Midland U.S. the youngest in a family or group.
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Least
is always a great word to know.
So is quincunx. Does it mean:
| an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle. |
| a calculus or concretion found in the stomach or intestines of certain animals, esp. ruminants, formerly reputed to be an effective remedy for poison. |
adverb superl. of little with less as compar.
Idioms5.
to the smallest extent, amount, or degree: That's the least important question of all. He talks least.
6.
at least,
a.
at the lowest estimate or figure: The repairs will cost at least $100.
b.
Also, at the least.at any rate; in any case: You didn't get a good grade, but at least you passed the course.
7.
not in the least, not in the smallest degree; not at all: I am not in the least concerned about the outcome of the World Series.
Example Sentences
- And their already steep prices have been going up because the prices of precious metals have been rising, gold's not least.
- But the idea of a computer program making life-or-death decisions is controversial, to say the least.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
lit·tle
[lit-l] adjective, lit·tler or less or less·er, lit·tlest or least, adverb, less, least, noun adjective
1.
small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room.
2.
short in duration; not extensive; short; brief: a little while.
3.
small in number: a little group of scientists.
4.
small in amount or degree; not much: little hope.
5.
EXPANDof a certain amount; appreciable (usually preceded by a): We're having a little difficulty.
6.
being such on a small scale: little farmers.
7.
younger or youngest: He's my little brother.
8.
not strong, forceful, or loud; weak: a little voice.
9.
small in consideration, importance, position, affluence, etc.: little discomforts; tax reductions to help the little fellow.
10.
mean, narrow, or illiberal: a little mind.
11.
endearingly small or considered as such: Bless your little heart!
12.
amusingly small or so considered: a funny little way of laughing.
13.
COLLAPSEcontemptibly small, petty, mean, etc., or so considered: filthy little political tricks.
adverb
14.
not at all (used before a verb): He little knows what awaits him.
15.
in only a small amount or degree; not much; slightly: a little known work of art; little better than a previous effort.
16.
seldom; rarely; infrequently: We see each other very little.
noun
Idioms17.
a small amount, quantity, or degree: They did little to make him comfortable. If you want some ice cream, there's a little in the refrigerator.
18.
a short distance: It's down the road a little.
19.
a short time: Stay here for a little.
20.
in little, on a small scale; in miniature: a replica in little of Independence Hall.
21.
little by little, by small degrees; gradually: The water level rose little by little.
22.
make little of,
a.
belittle: to make little of one's troubles.
b.
to understand or interpret only slightly: Scholars made little of the newly discovered text.
23.
not a little, to a great extent; very much; considerably: It tired me not a little to stand for three hours.
24.
think little of, to treat casually; regard as trivial: They think little of driving 50 miles to see a movie.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English, Old English lȳtel (lȳt few, small + -el diminutive suffix), cognate with Dutch luttel, Old High German luzzil, Old Norse lītill
before 900; Middle English, Old English lȳtel (lȳt few, small + -el diminutive suffix), cognate with Dutch luttel, Old High German luzzil, Old Norse lītill
Related forms
lit·tle·ness, noun
Synonyms
1–4. tiny, teeny, wee. Little, diminutive, minute, small refer to that which is not large or significant. Little (the opposite of big) is very general, covering size, extent, number, quantity, amount, duration, or degree: a little boy; a little time. Small (the opposite of large and of great) can many times be used interchangeably with little, but is especially applied to what is limited or below the average in size: small oranges. Diminutive denotes (usually physical) size that is much less than the average or ordinary; it may suggest delicacy: the baby's diminutive fingers; diminutive in size but autocratic in manner. Minute suggests that which is so tiny it is difficult to discern, or that which implies attentiveness to the smallest details: a minute quantity; a minute exam.
1–4. tiny, teeny, wee. Little, diminutive, minute, small refer to that which is not large or significant. Little (the opposite of big) is very general, covering size, extent, number, quantity, amount, duration, or degree: a little boy; a little time. Small (the opposite of large and of great) can many times be used interchangeably with little, but is especially applied to what is limited or below the average in size: small oranges. Diminutive denotes (usually physical) size that is much less than the average or ordinary; it may suggest delicacy: the baby's diminutive fingers; diminutive in size but autocratic in manner. Minute suggests that which is so tiny it is difficult to discern, or that which implies attentiveness to the smallest details: a minute quantity; a minute exam.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To least
Collins
World English Dictionary
| least (liːst) | |
| —determiner | |
| 1. | a. the least the superlative of little : you have the least talent of anyone |
| b. (as pronoun; functioning as sing): least isn't necessarily worst | |
| 2. | at least |
| a. if nothing else: you should at least try | |
| b. at the least | |
| 3. | at the least, at least at the minimum: at the least you should earn a hundred pounds |
| 4. | (usually used with a negative) in the least in the slightest degree; at all: I don't mind in the least |
| —adv | |
| 5. | the least superlative of little : they travel the least of all |
| —adj | |
| 6. | of very little importance or rank |
| [Old English lǣst, superlative of lǣssa | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
least
O.E. læst, earlier læsest "smallest" (superlative of læs "smaller, less"), from P.Gmc. *laisistaz. Qualifying phrase at least is M.E. æt læstan. Colloquial leastways (1825), regarded as vulgar is simply a one-word form of Chaucer's leest weye (late 14c.).
EXPANDlittle
O.E. lytel (related to lyt "little, few," from P.Gmc. *luti), from W.Gmc. *lutila- (cf. Du. luttel, O.H.G. luzzil, Ger. lützel, Goth. leitils), from PIE *leud- "small." "Often synonymous with small, but capable of emotional implications which small is not" [OED]. Phrase the little woman "wife" attested
from 1795. Little people "the faeries" is from 1726; as "children," it is attested from 1752; as "ordinary people" it is attested from 1827. Little Neck clams (1884) are so called for Little Neck, Long Island, a "neck" of land on the island's North Shore. Little by little is from late 15c. (litylle be litille).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
least
In addition to the idioms beginning with least, also see at least; in the least; last but not least; to say the least.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
Cite This Source
Word Dynamo By Dictionary.com
Idioms & Phrases
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