small
(smôl)
[Middle English smal, from Old English smæl.]
adjective: small·er, small·est.
- Being below the average in size or magnitude.
- Limited in importance or significance; trivial: a small matter.
- Limited in degree or scope: small farm operations.
- Lacking position, influence, or status; minor: “A crowd of small writers had vainly attempted to rival Addison” (Thomas Macaulay)
- Unpretentious; modest: made a small living; helped the cause in my own small way.
- Not fully grown; very young.
- Narrow in outlook; petty: a small mind.
- Having been belittled; humiliated: Their comments made me feel small.
- Diluted; weak. Used of alcoholic beverages.
- Lacking force or volume: a small voice.
adverb
- In small pieces: Cut the meat up small.
- Without loudness or forcefulness; softly.
- In a small manner.
noun
- A part that is smaller or narrower than the rest: the small of the back.
- Small things considered as a group.
- Chiefly British Small items of clothing.
derivatives
- smalĺish
- adjective
- smalĺness
- noun
synonyms:
small, diminutive, little, miniature, minuscule, minute2petite, tiny, wee These adjectives mean being notably below the average in size or magnitude: a small house; diminutive in stature; little hands; a miniature camera; a minuscule amount of rain; minute errors; a petite figure; tiny feet; a wee puppy.
Antonym: large
