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small
[ smawl ]
adjective
- of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little:
a small box.
Synonyms: tiny
- slender, thin, or narrow:
a small waist.
Synonyms: slight
- not large as compared with others of the same kind:
a small elephant.
- (of letters) lowercase ( def 1 ).
- not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc.:
a small salary.
- not great numerically:
a small army.
- of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.
- having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale:
a small enterprise.
- of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence:
a small problem.
Synonyms: unimportant, insignificant, paltry, inconsequential, nugatory, secondary, minor, petty, trifling
- humble, modest, or unpretentious:
small circumstances.
- characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty:
a small, miserly man.
Synonyms: narrow, selfish, mean, narrow-minded, small-minded
- of little strength or force:
a small effort.
Synonyms: feeble
- (of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.
- very young:
when I was a small boy.
- diluted; weak.
adverb
- in a small manner:
They talked big but lived small.
- into small pieces:
Slice the cake small.
- in low tones; softly.
noun
- something that is small:
Do you prefer the small or the large?
- a small or narrow part, as of the back.
- those who are small:
Democracy benefits the great and the small.
- smalls, small goods or products.
- smalls, British.
- household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.
- smalls, British Informal. the responsions at Oxford University.
- smalls, Mining. coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.
small
/ smɔːl /
adjective
- comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc
- of little importance or on a minor scale
a small business
- lacking in moral or mental breadth or depth
a small mind
- modest or humble
small beginnings
- of low or inferior status, esp socially
- (of a child or animal) young; not mature
- unimportant, trivial
a small matter
- not outstanding
a small actor
- See capital, lower caseof, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing Compare capital 1 See also lower case
- lacking great strength or force
a small effort
- in fine particles
small gravel
- obsolete.(of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength
adverb
- into small pieces
you have to cut it small
- in a small or soft manner
- feel smallfeel small to be humiliated or inferior
noun
- the smallthe small an object, person, or group considered to be small
do you want the small or the large?
- a small slender part, esp of the back
- informal.plural items of personal laundry, such as underwear
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Derived Forms
- ˈsmallness, noun
- ˈsmallish, adjective
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Other Words From
- smallness noun
- ultra·small adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of small1
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Word History and Origins
Origin of small1
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Idioms and Phrases
- feel small, to be ashamed or mortified:
Her unselfishness made me feel small.
More idioms and phrases containing small
- 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
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Example Sentences
Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.
And yes, someone has already called Spencer a “Small Fry,” har har.
It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”
The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.
Inside the guild, men in caps and long gowns sit in twos, weaving together in small rooms.
The Duchess had also a tent for their sick men; so that we had a small town of our own here, and every body employed.
Suddenly, however, he became aware of a small black spot far ahead in the very middle of the unencumbered track.
He is perplexed and hindered by the lack of soldiers, but is doing his best with his small forces.
A small book, bound in full purple calf, lay half hidden in a nest of fine tissue paper on the dressing-table.
Before the outlaw can comply with this small request the horn sounds again.
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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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