Nearby Words
Synonyms
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.
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Little by little
is always a great word to know.
So is ninnyhammer. Does it mean:
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
| a scrap or morsel of food left at a meal. |
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
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Link To little by little
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
little
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
EXPANDfrom 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).
COLLAPSE
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
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.
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Idioms & Phrases
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