small
of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little: a small box.
slender, thin, or narrow: a small waist.
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.
humble, modest, or unpretentious: small circumstances.
characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty: a small, miserly man.
of little strength or force: a small effort.
(of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.
very young: when I was a small boy.
diluted; weak.
in a small manner: They talked big but lived small.
into small pieces: Slice the cake small.
in low tones; softly.
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.
Idioms about small
feel small, to be ashamed or mortified: Her unselfishness made me feel small.
Origin of small
1synonym study For small
Other words for small
Opposites for small
Other words from small
- smallness, noun
- ul·tra·small, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use small in a sentence
“There was still no pulse, not even the smallest bit,” Johnson says.
'Please Don't Die!': The Frantic Battle to Save Murdered Cops | Michael Daly | December 22, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt seeps up into the city from below, through even the smallest cracks and drains.
Because the fact of the matter is the Today show part is really, in a way, the smallest part in the great 34-hour scheme of it.
The concentration of PM2.5, the smallest particulate matter, is at 153 micrograms per cubic meter.
He won then with less than 38 percent of the vote, the smallest plurality of any winning gubernatorial candidate in the country.
Republican Wave Carries Maine Governor Paul LePage to Victory | Ben Jacobs | November 5, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The pink flowers are the largest while those of a yellow color are the smallest.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.As small letters weary the eye most, so also the smallest affairs disturb us most.
Pearls of Thought | Maturin M. Ballou“I think it is a knock at the door,” said Mr. Pickwick, as if there could be the smallest doubt of the fact!
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2) | Charles DickensShe ignored his very presence, though readily, eagerly forthcoming to the smallest sign from Tony.
The Wave | Algernon BlackwoodIts vitals were going—were gone, before the smallest indications of mischief appeared upon the surface.
British Dictionary definitions for small
/ (smɔːl) /
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
of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing: Compare capital 1 (def. 13) 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
into small pieces: you have to cut it small
in a small or soft manner
feel small to be humiliated or inferior
the 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
(plural) informal, mainly British items of personal laundry, such as underwear
Origin of small
1Derived forms of small
- smallish, adjective
- smallness, noun
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
Other Idioms and Phrases with small
In addition to the idioms beginning with small
- small beer
- small cog in a large wheel
- small frog in a big pond
- small fry
- small hours
- small print
- small talk
- small time
- small wonder
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
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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