less
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- pronunciation:
- les
- parts of speech:
- adverb, adjective, noun, preposition
- phrases:
- less than, less than or equal to
- features:
- Note
| part of speech: |
adverb |
| definition 1: |
comparative of "little."
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| definition 2: |
to a smaller degree or amount.
He is less patient than I am.I eat less in the summer.This one is not quite as good, but it costs less. |
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| part of speech: |
adjective |
| definition 1: |
comparative of "little."
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| definition 2: |
smaller in degree or amount.
He has less patience than I have.I added less sugar than the recipe called for.- antonyms:
- more
- similar words:
- fewer
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| related words: |
minor |
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| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a smaller amount.
This vaccuum cleaner picks up less of the dirt than my old one.- antonyms:
- more
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| part of speech: |
preposition |
| definition: |
made smaller by; minus.
Three less one is two.- synonyms:
- minus
- antonyms:
- plus
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| phrase: |
less than, less than or equal to |
less or fewer? a little or a few?
Fewer and
a few should be used when you talk about a small number of people or things that you can count.
Less and
a little should be used for a small amount of a thing that you cannot count.
Compare:
- There is less milk in the container than there was this morning.
- He has fewer friends now than when he was young.
- She ate only a little soup and a few crackers.