small

[smawl]

adjective

smaller, smallest 

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

   a small box.

   Synonyms: tiny
   Antonyms: big, large

2. slender, thin, or narrow.

   a small waist.

   Synonyms: slight

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: insignificant, paltry, inconsequential, nugatory, secondary, minor, unimportant, petty, trifling

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: narrow, selfish, mean, narrow-minded, small-minded

12. of little strength or force.

    a small effort.

    Synonyms: feeble

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

/ smɔːl /

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

adverb

1. into small pieces

   you have to cut it small

2. in a small or soft manner

3. to be humiliated or inferior

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

Other Word Forms

• smallness noun
• ultrasmall adjective
• smallish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English smæl; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

Old English smæl; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. feel small, to be ashamed or mortified.

   Her unselfishness made me feel small.

More idioms and phrases containing small

• (small) cog in the wheel
• big fish in a small pond
• 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

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.

Example Sentences

Here, Baumbach finds the emotional center, focusing on all of the small, romantic parts of life that can’t be replicated by an hour in the makeup chair before a day of filming begins.

From Salon

Chinatown’s Paper Plant Co. is her stationery outpost, made of two small storefronts that share a space with Thank You Coffee and boast outdoor seating.

From Los Angeles Times

PORTLAND, Ore. — There is a rhetorical battle raging here in this heavily Democratic city, known for its delicious coffee, plethora of fancy restaurants, bespoke doughnuts and also for its small faction of black-clad activists.

From Los Angeles Times

What happens with the small number of county beds is to be determined.

From Los Angeles Times

A short drive up into the hills, there's a small pocket of woodland on the edge of an upmarket suburb that could reveal a terrible secret.

From BBC

Related Words

• cramped 
• limited 
• meager 
• microscopic 
• miniature 
• minuscule 
• modest 
• narrow 
• paltry 
• poor 
• short 
• slight 
• small-scale 
• young 

When To Use

What is a basic definition of small?

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.