Englishئاساسىي لۇغەت
little
Universal Words
adjective, determiner, pronoun, adverb
adjective [usuallybeforenoun]
HELPNOTE The forms littler are rare. It is more common to use smaller and smallest.
1 not big; small; smaller than others:
a little house * a little group of tourists * a little old lady * the classic little black dress * 'Which do you want?' 'I'll take the little one.' * She gave a little laugh. * (BrE) We should manage, with a little bit of luck. * Here's a little something (= a small present) for your birthday.
2 used after an adjective to show affection or dislike, especially in a PATRONIZING way (= one that suggests that you think you are better than sb):
The poor little thing! It's lost its mother. * What a nasty little man! * She's a good little worker. * He'd become quite the little gentleman.
3 young:
a little boy / girl * My little sister (= younger sister) is 21 today. * I lived in America when I was little.
4 (of distance or time) short:
A little while later the phone rang. * Shall we walk a little way?
5 not important; not serious:
I can't remember every little detail. * You soon get used to the little difficulties. -< SMALL
littleness noun [U] (rare)
IDIOMS
a little bird told me (spoken) used to say that sb told you sth but you do not want to say who it was
moreatWONDERn.
determiner, pronoun
1 used with uncountable nouns to mean 'not much':
There was little doubt in my mind. * Students have little or no choice in the matter. * I understood little of what he said. * She said little or nothing (= hardly anything) about her experience. * Tell him as little as possible.
2 (a little) used with uncountable nouns to mean 'a small amount', 'some':
a little milk / sugar / tea * If you have any spare milk, could you give me a little? * I've only read a little of the book so far. * (formal) It caused not a little / no little (= a lot of) confusion. * After a little (= a short time) he got up and left.
IDIOMS
little by little slowly; gradually:
Little by little the snow disappeared. * His English is improving little by little.
adverb (less, least)
1 not much; only slightly:
He is little known as an artist. * I slept very little last night. * (written) Little did I know that this spelled the end of my career.
2 a little (bit) to a small degree:
She seemed a little afraid of going inside. * These shoes are a little (bit) too big for me. * (informal) Everything has become just that little bit harder. * (formal) She felt tired and more than a little worried. -> BIT
