Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [les]
- /lɛs/
- /les/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [les]
- /lɛs/
Definitions of less word
- adverb less not at all (used before a verb): He little knows what awaits him. 1
- adverb less in only a small amount or degree; not much; slightly: a little-known work of art; little better than a previous effort. 1
- adverb less seldom; rarely; infrequently: We see each other very little. 1
- adjective less small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room. 1
- adjective less short in duration; not extensive; short; brief: a little while. 1
- adjective less small in number: a little group of scientists. 1
Information block about the term
Origin of less
First appearance:
before 900 One of the 4% oldest English words
before 900; Middle English; Old English lǣs (adv.), lǣssa (adj.); cognate with Old Frisian lês (adv.), lêssa (adj.). See least
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Less
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
less popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 99% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
less usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for less
adj less
- limited — confined within limits; restricted or circumscribed: a limited space; limited resources.
- lower — to cause to descend; let or put down: to lower a flag.
- negative — expressing or containing negation or denial: a negative response to the question.
- lesser — small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room.
- subordinate — placed in or belonging to a lower order or rank.
adv less
- barely — You use barely to say that something is only just true or only just the case.
- meagerly — deficient in quantity or quality; lacking fullness or richness; scanty; inadequate: a meager salary; meager fare; a meager harvest.
- little — small in size; not big; not large; tiny: a little desk in the corner of the room.
adjective less
Antonyms for less
adj less
- higher — having a great or considerable extent or reach upward or vertically; lofty; tall: a high wall.
- greater — unusually or comparatively large in size or dimensions: A great fire destroyed nearly half the city.
- more — Mossi (def 2).
- important — of much or great significance or consequence: an important event in world history.
- superior — higher in station, rank, degree, importance, etc.: a superior officer.
preposition less
- plus — more by the addition of; increased by: ten plus two is twelve.