- little
- 1
/'lItl/ adjective
1 SIZE small in size: a little house | their little group of supporters | a little bit of especially BrE (=a small piece of something): little bits of paper all over the floor | little tiny spoken (=extremely small): a little tiny puppy | a little something informal (=a small present): I promised the kids a little something if they ate all their dinner.2 used about something or someone that is small to show that you like or dislike them, or that you feel sorry for them: nice little/clever little etc: a nice little house | a clever little gadget | It wasn't a bad little car. | nasty little/silly little etc: another of her silly little jokes | a boring little man | poor little/pathetic little (=used when you feel sympathetic): her sad little face looking up at me | a poor little bird with a broken wing3 done in a way that is not very strong or noticeable; slight: a wry little smile4 TIME/DISTANCE short in time or distance: I can have a nice little nap in the car. | You'll find it a little way along this path. | a little while (=a short period of time): He arrived a little while ago. | We sat there for a little while longer.5 YOUNG young and small: a cute little puppy | We didn't have toys like this when I was little. | a little boy/girl: two little boys playing in the street | your little girl/boy (=your son or daughter who is still a child): Mum, I'm 17 - I'm not your little girl any longer. | little brother/sister (=a younger brother or sister who is still a child)6 UNIMPORTANTa) not important: I'm too busy to worry about little things like broken windows.b) used jokingly when you really think that something is important: There's just that little matter of the -5000 you owe me.7 a little bird told me humorous spoken used to say that someone who you are not going to name has told you something about another person: A little bird told me you're getting married soon.8 the little woman spoken an expression meaning someone's wife, often considered offensive especially by womenUSAGE NOTE: LITTLE WORD CHOICE: little, small Little often suggests that you are talking about someone or something small that you are fond of or feel sympathetic towards: What a sweet little dog! | A little old lady lived in the house opposite. Small simply describes the size of something: My daughter's room is smaller than mine. | He packed his things into a small bag. You also use small when you are giving information and facts: There has been a small increase in production. Little can also suggest that someone or something is unimportant: What a silly little man! When you are speaking it often sounds more friendly or polite to say something is little rather than small: I have a little problem, can you help? makes the problem sound less serious or urgent than: I have a small problem and We're going to have a little test sounds a little less frightening than: We're going to have a small test. 2 quantifier1 only a small amount or hardly any of something: Little is known about these areas of the moon. | There's little to be gained from an official complaint. | I paid little attention to what the others were saying. | very little: During that period I ate very little and slept even less | There's very little money left. | There seems very little point in continuing this discussion. | little or no: peasants who have little or no land | little of: Little of their wealth now remains. | do little to help/benefit etc: The new filing system has done little to improve efficiency. | as little as possible (=the smallest amount that you can have or do): He always writes as little as possible. | little real effect/importance etc (=used to emphasize that there is hardly any effect etc): The laboratory tests are of little real value. | precious little (=very little): There's precious little good news.-see few2 a little also a little bit a small amount: I told him a little bit about it. | Fortunately I had a little time to spare. | She speaks a little French. | A little over half the class can swim. | a little more/less: He poured me out a little more wine. | "Would you like some more coffee? " " Just a little, thanks." | a little of: The city is regaining a little of its former splendour.3 TIME/DISTANCE a short time or distance: a little over 60 years ago | We walked on a little and then turned back.4 what little the small amount that there is, that is possible etc: We did what little we could to help. | The firemen recovered what little remained of the bodies.3 adverb1 a little also a little bit to a small degree: She trembled a little as she spoke. | I was a little bit disappointed with my test results. | a little more/better/further etc: We shall have to wait a little longer to see what happens.2 not much or only slightly: The pattern of life here has changed little since I was a boy. | little known/understood etc (=not known etc by many people): a little known corner of the world | little more/better etc (than): His voice was little more than a whisper. | very little: The situation has improved very little, in spite of all our efforts. | as little as possible: I try to disturb her as little as possible when she's working.3 little did sb think/realize also sb little thought/realized used to mean that someone did not think or realize that something was true: Little did he realize that we were watching his every move.4 little by little gradually: Little by little things returned to normal.5 more than a little/not a little formal extremely: Graham was more than a little frightened by what he had seen.6 (just) that little bit extra/harder/better etc more, harder etc by a small amount that will have an important effect: people who work just that little bit harder than anyone else
Longman dictionary of contemporary English. 2004.
