small

[ smawl ]

adjective

, small·er, small·est.

1. of limited size; of comparatively restricted dimensions; not big; little:

   a small box.

   Synonyms: tiny

   Antonyms: big, large

2. slender, thin, or narrow:

   a small waist.

   Synonyms: slight

3. not large as compared with others of the same kind:

   a small elephant.

4. (of letters) lowercase ( def 1 ).
5. not great in amount, degree, extent, duration, value, etc.:

   a small salary.

6. not great numerically:

   a small army.

7. of low numerical value; denoted by a low number.
8. having but little land, capital, power, influence, etc., or carrying on business or some activity on a limited scale:

   a small enterprise.

9. of minor importance, moment, weight, or consequence:

   a small problem.

   Synonyms: unimportant, insignificant, paltry, inconsequential, nugatory, secondary, minor, petty, trifling

10. humble, modest, or unpretentious:

    small circumstances.

11. characterized by or indicative of littleness of mind or character; mean-spirited; petty:

    a small, miserly man.

    Synonyms: narrow, selfish, mean, narrow-minded, small-minded

12. of little strength or force:

    a small effort.

    Synonyms: feeble

13. (of sound or the voice) gentle; with little volume.
14. very young:

    when I was a small boy.

15. diluted; weak.

adverb

, small·er, small·est.

1. in a small manner:

   They talked big but lived small.

2. into small pieces:

   Slice the cake small.

3. in low tones; softly.

noun

1. something that is small:

   Do you prefer the small or the large?

2. a small or narrow part, as of the back.
3. those who are small:

   Democracy benefits the great and the small.

4. smalls, small goods or products.
5. smalls, British.
   1. underclothes.
   2. household linen, as napkins, pillowcases, etc.
6. smalls, British Informal. the responsions at Oxford University.
7. smalls, Mining. coal, ore, gangue, etc., in fine particles.

small

/ smɔːl /

adjective

1. comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc
2. of little importance or on a minor scale

   a small business

3. lacking in moral or mental breadth or depth

   a small mind

4. modest or humble

   small beginnings

5. of low or inferior status, esp socially
6. (of a child or animal) young; not mature
7. unimportant, trivial

   a small matter

8. not outstanding

   a small actor

9. of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writing Compare capital 1 See also lower case
10. lacking great strength or force

    a small effort

11. in fine particles

    small gravel

12. obsolete.
    (of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength

adverb

1. into small pieces

   you have to cut it small

2. in a small or soft manner
3. feel small
   to be humiliated or inferior

noun

1. the small
   an object, person, or group considered to be small

   do you want the small or the large?

2. a small slender part, esp of the back
3. informal.
   plural items of personal laundry, such as underwear

Derived Forms

• ˈsmallness, noun
• ˈsmallish, adjective

Other Words From

• smallness noun
• ultra·small adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English smale, Old English smæl; cognate with Dutch smal, German schmal

Word History and Origins

Origin of small¹

Old English smæl; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. feel small, to be ashamed or mortified:

   Her unselfishness made me feel small.

More idioms and phrases containing small

• big fish in a small pond
• (small) cog in the wheel
• give thanks for small blessings
• it's a small world
• little (small) frog in a big pond
• make a (small) fortune
• no (small) wonder
• still small voice

Synonym Study

See little. Smaller, less indicate a diminution, or not so large a size or quantity in some respect. Smaller, as applied to concrete objects, is used with reference to size: smaller apples. Less is used of material in bulk, with reference to amount, and in cases where attributes such as value and degree are in question: A nickel is less than a dime (in value). A sergeant is less than a lieutenant (in rank). As an abstraction, amount may be either smaller or less, though smaller is usually used when the idea of size is suggested: a smaller opportunity. Less is used when the idea of quantity is present: less courage.

Example Sentences

We go through a process of consideration and elimination as we realize the show is so bespoke to this venue that to try and capture it for a small screen just wouldn’t make any sense.

From Los Angeles Times

Tanton kindles a small fire of twigs inside a metal pitcher, while expounding for the camera about ecology and overpopulation.

From Salon

The plot centers on thousands of impoverished Indian farmers who commandeer a fleet and sail, dirty, uncivilized and desperate, to France, where a small resistance is all that stands in the way from their overrunning the country.

From Salon

They were all part of what the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center described as a marked uptick in white supremacist activity, a small but growing portion of which is environmentally focused.

From Salon

Anti-SLAPP laws protect small and independent publishers against corporate bullies.

From Salon

Related Words

• cramped
• limited
• meager
• microscopic
• miniature
• minuscule
• modest
• narrow
• paltry
• poor
• short
• slight
• small-scale
• young