little
[ lit-l ]
/ ˈlɪt l /
adjective, lit·tler or less or less·er, lit·tlest or least.
adverb, less, least.
noun
Idioms for little
Origin of little
before 900; Middle English, Old English
lȳtel (
lȳt few, small +
-el diminutive suffix), cognate with Dutch
luttel, Old High German
luzzil, Old Norse
lītill
SYNONYMS FOR little
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.
OTHER WORDS FROM little
lit·tlish [lit-l-ish, lit-lish] /ˈlɪt l ɪʃ, ˈlɪt lɪʃ/, adjective lit·tle·ness, nounWords nearby little
Example sentences from the Web for little
British Dictionary definitions for little
little
/ (ˈlɪtəl) /
determiner
adjective
adverb
Word Origin for little
Old English
lӯtel; related to
lӯr few, Old High German
luzzil
Idioms and Phrases with little
little