51Թ

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View synonyms for

small

[smawl]

adjective

smaller, smallest 
  1. of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little.

    a small box.

    Synonyms:
    Antonyms: ,
  2. slender, thin, or narrow.

    a small waist.

    Synonyms:
  3. not large as compared with others of the same kind.

    a small elephant.

  4. (of letters) lowercase.

  5. not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc..

    a small salary.

  6. not great numerically.

    a small army.

  7. of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.

  8. having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale.

    a small enterprise.

  9. of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence.

    a small problem.

    Synonyms: , , , , , , , ,
  10. humble, modest, or unpretentious.

    small circumstances.

  11. characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty.

    a small, miserly man.

    Synonyms: , , , ,
  12. of little strength or force.

    a small effort.

    Synonyms:
  13. (of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.

  14. very young.

    when I was a small boy.

  15. diluted; weak.



adverb

smaller, smallest 
  1. in a small manner.

    They talked big but lived small.

  2. into small pieces.

    Slice the cake small.

  3. in low tones; softly.

noun

  1. something that is small.

    Do you prefer the small or the large?

  2. a small or narrow part, as of the back.

  3. those who are small.

    Democracy benefits the great and the small.

  4. smalls, small goods or products.

  5. British.smalls,

    1. underclothes.

    2. household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.

  6. British Informal.smalls, the responsions at Oxford University.

  7. Mining.smalls, coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.

small

/ ɔː /

adjective

  1. comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc

  2. of little importance or on a minor scale

    a small business

  3. lacking in moral or mental breadth or depth

    a small mind

  4. modest or humble

    small beginnings

  5. of low or inferior status, esp socially

  6. (of a child or animal) young; not mature

  7. unimportant, trivial

    a small matter

  8. not outstanding

    a small actor

  9. of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing Compare capital 1 See also lower case

  10. lacking great strength or force

    a small effort

  11. in fine particles

    small gravel

  12. obsolete(of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adverb

  1. into small pieces

    you have to cut it small

  2. in a small or soft manner

  3. to be humiliated or inferior

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. an object, person, or group considered to be small

    do you want the small or the large?

  2. a small slender part, esp of the back

  3. informal(plural) items of personal laundry, such as underwear

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • smallness noun
  • ultrasmall adjective
  • ˈԱ noun
  • ˈ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of small1

First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English æ; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of small1

Old English æ; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. feel small, to be ashamed or mortified.

    Her unselfishness made me feel small.

In addition to the idioms beginning with small, also see big fish in a small pond; (small) cog in the wheel; give thanks for small blessings; it's a small world; little (small) frog in a big pond; make a (small) fortune; no (small) wonder; still small voice.
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Synonym Study

See little. Smaller, less indicate a diminution, or not so large a size or quantity in some respect. Smaller, as applied to concrete objects, is used with reference to size: smaller apples. Less is used of material in bulk, with reference to amount, and in cases where attributes such as value and degree are in question: A nickel is less than a dime (in value). A sergeant is less than a lieutenant (in rank). As an abstraction, amount may be either smaller or less, though smaller is usually used when the idea of size is suggested: a smaller opportunity. Less is used when the idea of quantity is present: less courage.
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

"We've all wanted to go to smaller cities or villages, anywhere we can go, but each of us has loved ones who can't leave, and we're thinking of them," she said.

From

Held on the smaller, more intimate Court One, the pair laughed and joked together and chatted with fans at the changes of ends.

From

The latest statistics go up to March and therefore don't take into account the knock-on effect of increased small boat crossings in the months since.

From

For the other half of patients, the chance of being named gets a little smaller with every day that the phone doesn’t ring.

From

Lots own small businesses, are paying mortgages, attend universities, rise in their professions.

From

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When To Use

What is a basic definition ofsmall?

Small is an adjective that describes something as little or not of large size. Small can also describe something as being low in number or amount. Small has many other senses as an adjective, adverb, and noun and is used in several idioms.If something or someone is small, they are little or diminutive. They are physically short or take up a low amount of physical space. Small can also describe something as being less big than other similar things. For example, a pony is a small horse. The noun form of this sense of small is smallness.



  • Real-life examples: Chihuahuas are small dogs. Ants are small animals. A dime is a small coin.


  • Used in a sentence: The letters were too small to read. 


Small also describes something as being low in number.



  • Real-life examples: A group of 100 soldiers is a very small army. A town that only has 30 people living in it has a small population.


  • Used in a sentence: I started my business with a small team of trusted friends. 


Small can also describe something as not being of a large amount or great degree.



  • Used in a sentence: She won a few small bets before betting it all and winning the jackpot.


Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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