1. See little. 1, 3, 5. 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.
OTHER WORDS FROM small
smallness,nounul·tra·small,adjective
Words nearby small
smackdown, smacker, smackeroo, smackhead, smacking, small, small advertisement, smallage, small arm, small arms, small beer
Something like fluoride, which is too small for normal filters, yanks away that feeling of agency.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
And yes, someone has already called Spencer a “Small Fry,” har har.
Freaking Out About Age Gaps in Gay Relationships Is Homophobic|Samantha Allen|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It was seen by a small delegation of star-struck prelates and dignitaries who later described the film as “moving.”
Pope Francis Has the Pleasure of Meeting Angelina Jolie for a Few Seconds|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The judges who handle arraignments at criminal court in all five boroughs have a small fraction of their usual caseloads.
Shot Down During the NYPD Slowdown|Michael Daly|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Inside the guild, men in caps and long gowns sit in twos, weaving together in small rooms.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
As I have already said, we had made four oars, but our boat was so small that only two were necessary.
The Coral Island|R. M. Ballantyne
But now the boiler proved to be too small to furnish steam steadily in sufficient quantity to sustain the higher speed.
A History of the Growth of the Steam-Engine|Robert H. Thurston
Its food consists of sand-worms, crustaceans, various insects and great quantities of small molluscs.
British Sea Birds|Charles Dixon
Eleanor Gray—the world is small, the life of it persistent; generations repeat themselves, and each is young but once.
The Militants|Mary Raymond Shipman Andrews
The cross-head is a small piece of aluminum bronze, running on round guides that also serve as cylinder braces.
Langley Memoir on Mechanical Flight, Parts I and II|S. P. (Samuel Pierpont) Langley and Charles M. (Charles Matthews) Manly
British Dictionary definitions for small
small
/ (smɔːl) /
adjective
comparatively little; limited in size, number, importance, etc
of little importance or on a minor scalea small business
lacking in moral or mental breadth or deptha small mind
modest or humblesmall beginnings
of low or inferior status, esp socially
(of a child or animal) young; not mature
unimportant, triviala small matter
not outstandinga small actor
of, relating to, or designating the ordinary modern minuscule letter used in printing and cursive writingCompare capital 1 (def. 13) See also lower case
lacking great strength or forcea small effort
in fine particlessmall gravel
obsolete(of beer, etc) of low alcoholic strength
adverb
into small piecesyou have to cut it small
in a small or soft manner
feel smallto be humiliated or inferior
noun
the smallan object, person, or group considered to be smalldo you want the small or the large?
a small slender part, esp of the back
(plural)informal, mainlyBritishitems of personal laundry, such as underwear
Derived forms of small
smallish, adjectivesmallness, noun
Word Origin for small
Old English smæl; related to Old High German smal, Old Norse smali small cattle