Topic: LETTERS AND PUNCTUATION
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| Language: | Old English |
| Origin: | smæl |
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small1 S1 W1
comparative smaller, superlative smallest
comparative smaller, superlative smallest1 not large in size or amount : a small piece of paper a small car a small town a small dark woman The T-shirt was too small for him. The sweater comes in three sizes - small, medium and large.
size
a small piece of papera small cara small towna small dark womanThe T-shirt was too small for him.The sweater comes in three sizes - small, medium and large.2 a small problem, job, mistake etc is not important or does not have a large effect [= minor]: We may have to make a few small changes. There's been a small problem. There's only a small difference between them. It was good to feel we had helped in some small way.
not important
We may have to make a few small changes.There's been a small problem.There's only a small difference between them.It was good to feel we had helped in some small way.3 a large degree, achievement etc : The success of the project is due in no small measure to the work of Dr Peterson. That is no small achievement in the circumstances.
no small degree/achievement/task etc
The success of the project is due in no small measure to the work of Dr Peterson.That is no small achievement in the circumstances.4 a small child is young : She has three small children. I've known him since he was a small boy.
young
She has three small children.I've known him since he was a small boy.5 a business that does not involve large amounts of money or does not employ a large number of people : grants for small businesses
small business/firm/farmer etc
Bgrants for small businesses6 small letters are letters in the form a, b, c etc rather than A, B, C etc [= lower case; ≠ capital]
letter
SLA7 someone who believes in the principles you have mentioned, but does not belong to an organized group or political party
conservative with a small 'c'/democrat with a small 'd' etc
informal8 a small voice is quiet and soft : 'What about me?' she asked in a small voice.
voice
'What about me?' she asked in a small voice.10 used to express surprise when you unexpectedly meet someone you know or find out that someone has an unexpected connection to you : Did you know David went to school with my brother? It's a small world, isn't it?
(it's a) small world
especially spokenDid you know David went to school with my brother? It's a small world, isn't it?13 to be pleased that a bad situation is not even worse : She wasn't too badly hurt, so we should be thankful for small mercies.
be thankful/grateful for small mercies/favours
She wasn't too badly hurt, so we should be thankful for small mercies.14 the early morning hours, between about one and four o'clock
the small hours
also the wee small hours British English in/into the small hours He finally fell exhausted into bed in the small hours. The party continued into the wee small hours.
He finally fell exhausted into bed in the small hours.The party continued into the wee small hours.16 used to say that someone or something is not important, especially when compared to other people or things : Even with £10,000 to invest, you are still small beer for most investment managers.
something is small potatoes
also something is small beer British English informalEven with £10,000 to invest, you are still small beer for most investment managers. —small adverb: He writes so small I can't read it.
He writes so small I can't read it. —smallness noun [uncountable]
WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: small, littleSmall is a very general word for talking about the size of something • a small village • a small man • He had small brown eyes. • The envelope was too small. • Do you have this shirt in a smaller size?Little is used, especially in spoken English, to show how you feel about someone or something small, for example to show that you like them, dislike them, or feel sorry for them • What lovely little cakes! • her horrid little dog!! You can say 'smaller' or 'smallest', but do not say 'littler' or 'littlest' • Her feet are even smaller (NOT littler/more little) than mine.!! You can use words like 'quite', 'very' and 'too' in front of small, but do not use them with little • a very small car (NOT very little car)
