less Definition

less
adj

1. denoting a smaller size, quantity, duration, etc.

Example: drank less wine than you
2. colloq
Fewer in number. See note.
Example: smoke less cigarettes

adverb

1. Not so much; to a smaller extent.

Example: exercises less nowadays

pronoun

1. A smaller amount or number.

Example: tried to eat less

prep

1. Without; minus.

Example: £100 less the discount

Idiom: less than no time

jocular
A very short time indeed.

Idiom: much less

Used to link alternatives so that the extent of one's disapproval, surprise, etc is emphasized:.
Example: didn't even cut the grass, much less do the weeding

Idiom: no less

usually ironic
Tagged on, usually after a title, a well-known name, etc in order to hint that the person, thing or action concerned is not really as highly respected as might be supposed:.
Example: a compliment from the director, no less

usually contemptuous
Tagged on, usually at the end of a sentence, in order to devalue what has just been said:.
Example: actually worked a full week, no less

Idiom: nothing less than

As much as; tantamount to.
Example: amounts to nothing less than a swindle

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon læssa.

Info:

○ Less is a grammatically complex word with several part-of-speech functions, as the entry shows. Its use overlaps with fewer when it qualifies plural nouns, especially in conversation:?Strictly, fewer is more correct in this case. The reason less is used here instead of fewer is that the total amount predominates in the mind over the plurality implied by the strict grammar of the noun.

This is especially true

○ when measurements (including time and distance) and words like dozen, hundred, etc, are used,

○ when less is to be identified with a singular or indivisible subject,

○ and when the construction is less than:

○ In all these cases, fewer would be unidiomatic or even ungrammatical, and not typical of current English.

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little
adj littler, littlest

1. Small in size, extent or amount.

Thesaurus: small, diminutive, tiny, miniature, dwarfish, elfin; infinitesimal, minuscule, imperceptible; limited, slight, insufficient, cramped.
2. Young; younger.

Example: a little girl
Example: her little brother
3. Small in importance.

Example: a little mishap
4. Trivial or petty.

Example: a little misunderstanding
Example: a little disagreement
Thesaurus: insignificant, petty, unimportant, trivial.
5. Used as a way of detracting from a potentially disparaging implication: not troublesome.

Example: funny little ways
6. Small-minded or mean.

Example: He's a little liar

adverb

less, least
1. Not much or at all.

Example: They little understood the implications

pronoun

1. Not much.

Example: little to be gained from that course of action

Idiom: a little

Note: with a noun such as bit, while, way understood but not expressed
A small amount.
Example: do a little to help out

A short time.
Example: He'll be here in a little

A short distance.
Example: down the road a little

A small degree or extent.
Example: run around a little to keep warm

Idiom: little by little

Gradually; by degrees.

Idiom: make little of something

To treat it as unimportant or trivial.

To understand only a little of it.

Idiom: think little of something or someone

To have a low opinion of it or them; to disapprove of it or them.

Idiom: not a little

Very. See also less, lesser, least.
Example: He was not a little upset

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon lytel.

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more
adj

1. Greater; additional.

Example: He has more clothes than me
Example: Don't use more than two bags
Thesaurus: additional, further, extra, other, expanded, increased, augmented, enhanced, added ; Antonym: less.

adverb

1. Used to form the comparative form of many adjectives and most adverbs, especially those of two or more syllables.

Example: a more difficult problem
Example: Drive more carefully
2. To a greater degree; with a greater frequency.

Example: I miss him more than ever
Thesaurus: in addition, increasingly, also, likewise.
3. Again.

Example: Do it once more

pronoun

1. A greater, or additional, number or quantity of people or things. See also most.

Example: If we run out, I'll have to order more

Idiom: more and more

Increasingly; continuing to increase.

Idiom: more of a something

Better described as or closer to being (a specified thing).
Example: more of a painter than a writer

Idiom: more or less

Almost.
Example: more or less finished

Roughly.
Example: It'll take two hours, more or less

Etymology: Anglo-Saxon mara greater.