little
/'litl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Adjective:
- Small in size or amount: Used to describe something that is not large in physical dimensions or quantity.
- Young: Used to describe someone, especially a child or animal, who is young.
- Unimportant or trivial: Used to describe something considered insignificant or petty.
- Short in duration or distance: Used to describe a brief period of time or a short length.
Adverb:
- To a small degree or extent; not much: Used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs to indicate a small amount or degree.
Noun:
- A small amount or quantity: Refers to a small portion of something.
- A short time or distance: Refers to a brief period or a small length.
Examples of Usage
Adjective:
- She lives in a little house. (Describing small size)
- He is just a little boy. (Describing young age)
- Don't worry about those little problems. (Describing trivial matters)
- We went for a little walk. (Describing short duration)
Adverb:
- He sleeps very little. (Modifying a verb)
- She seemed little concerned about the news. (Modifying an adjective)
Noun:
- I only need a little of that sugar. (Referring to a small amount)
- After a little, he began to feel better. (Referring to a short time)
Advanced Usage
"Little by little": Gradually; slowly in small stages.
- He saved money little by little until he could buy a car.
"A little": Some; a small amount. When used with the article 'a', it has a positive or neutral connotation, unlike 'little' alone, which often has a negative connotation (meaning 'not enough').
- We have a little time before the meeting. (We have some time, which is sufficient.)
- We have little time before the meeting. (We have almost no time, which is a problem.)
"In little": On a small scale.
- The artist reproduced the masterpiece in little.
Variants and Related Words
- Less (adj, adv): Comparative form of 'little', meaning a smaller amount or degree.
- I have less money than you.
- Least (adj, adv): Superlative form of 'little', meaning the smallest amount or degree.
- This is the least expensive option.
- Littleness (n): The quality or state of being little.
- The littleness of the kitten made everyone smile.
Synonyms
- Small (adj): Of limited size.
- Tiny (adj): Very small.
- Slight (adj): Small in degree; inconsiderable.
- Brief (adj): Short in time.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- Make little of: To treat something as unimportant.
- He made little of his achievements, though they were great.
- Think little of: To have a low opinion of something or someone.
- She thought little of his proposal.
Related Idioms
- Little did someone know/think/realize: Used to say that someone was completely unaware of something.
- Little did I know that the answer was in the next chapter.
- Every little helps: Even a small contribution or action is useful.
- Donate what you can; every little helps.
Adjective
- small in a way that arouses feelings (of tenderness or its opposite depending on the context)
- a nice little job
- bless your little heart
- my dear little mother
- a sweet little deal
- I'm tired of your petty little schemes
- filthy little tricks
- what a nasty little situation
- lowercase
- little a
- small a
- e.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters
- low in stature; not tall
- he was short and stocky
- short in stature
- a short smokestack
- a little man
- (of a voice) faint
- a little voice
- a still small voice
- (informal) small and of little importance
- a fiddling sum of money
- a footling gesture
- our worries are lilliputian compared with those of countries that are at war
- a little (or small) matter
- a dispute over niggling details
- limited to petty enterprises
- piffling efforts
- giving a police officer a free meal may be against the law, but it seems to be a picayune infraction
- (of children and animals) young, immature
- what a big little boy you are
- small children
- (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some
- little rain fell in May
- gave it little thought
- little time is left
- we still have little money
- a little hope remained
- there's slight chance that it will work
- there's a slight chance it will work
- limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
- a little dining room
- a little house
- a small car
- a little (or small) group
Adverb
- not much
- he talked little about his family
Noun
- a small amount or duration
- he accepted the little they gave him