26984 words

small

18 definitions • 34 examples
1
little in size or amount when compared with what is typical or average:

Examples:

a small dog/house/car/country
I'd rather live in a small town than a big city.
Would you like a large or small cola with your burger?
Ella is the smallest girl in her class.
too small for That jacket's too small for you.
small for He's small for his age.
small number Only a small number of applicants are successful.
pitifully small The number of women in parliament is pitifully (= extremely) small.
in small quantities Liqueurs are usually drunk in small quantities.
2
A small child is a very young child that is older than a baby:

Examples:

Taking care of small children can be very tiring.
3
limited in the amount of an activity:

Examples:

The government should give more help to small businessmen (= people whose businesses are of a limited size).
small eater Chris is a small eater so he won't want much.
in a small way If you can help us in a small way (= to a limited degree) it would be greatly appreciated.
4
not very important or not likely to cause problems:

Examples:

She just made a couple of small mistakes in the test.
I have a small problem I would like to discuss with you.
5

Examples:

feel small Talking to her makes me feel small.
look small He's always trying to make me look small in front of my boss.
6
Small letters are not capital letters:

Examples:

The poet e e cummings sometimes wrote his name with small letters.
7
in a small size:

Examples:

The instructions are printed so small I can hardly read them.
8
the middle of the lower back:

Examples:

in the small of your back I have a pain in the small of my back.
9
underwear, especially when being washed or about to be washed:

Examples:

Do you have any smalls that need washing?
10
not big; less in size or amount than is average:

Examples:

a small business
small lunches
He’s small for his age.
Those jackets come in small, medium, and large sizes.
11
Small (abbreviation S) is a size of clothing or other product that is smaller than average:

Examples:

Those sweaters are available in small, medium, and large (sizes).
12
The small of your back is the back below the waist where it curves in slightly.
13
(of children) very young:

Examples:

His mother died when he was small.
14
not having much importance or effect:

Examples:

a small problem
a small part in a movie
15
(of a letter of the alphabet) lowercase
16
in small pieces, or in a size or amount that is less than average:

Examples:

The ingredients are printed so small I can hardly read them.
17
limited in size, amount, activity, etc.:

Examples:

Loans help small firms fund training.
The company made a small profit last year.
18
not very important or likely to cause problems:

Examples:

Verna said the review team would not mire itself in such small details.
In the construction industry, small mistakes can become multi-million dollar problems.

Navigation