—small /smɔːl/ aep /smɑːl/
adjective (ASHAMED)
► F0 ashamed or weak: » Talking to her makes me feel small.» He's always trying to make me look small in front of my boss.Thesaurus+: ↑Of little or less importancesmallness /ˈsmɔːl.nəs/ aep /ˈsmɑːl-/ noun [U]► F0» The smallness of the city often surprises first-time visitors.Thesaurus+: ↑Small , ↑Extremely small
adjective (LETTER SIZE)
F0 [before noun] describes letters that are not capital letters:
» The poet e. e. cummings wrote his name with small letters, not capital letters.Thesaurus+: ↑Lettering and alphabets , ↑Letters of alphabetsF0 UK A conservative with a small 'c' is someone who has traditional values, such as disliking change in society, rather than being a member or supporter of the Conservative Party. We can use this structure with other words to say something is more general or less extreme than the usual meaning:
» Management is all about politics with a small 'p'.Thesaurus+: ↑Generaladjective (LITTLE)
► A1 little in size or amount when compared with what is typical or average: » a small dog/house/car/country» I'd rather live in a small town than a big city.» Would you like a large or small cola with your burger?» Ella is the smallest girl in her class.» That jacket's too small for you.» He's small for his age.» Only a small number of applicants are successful.» The number of women in parliament is pitifully (= extremely) small.» Liqueurs are usually drunk in small quantities.Thesaurus+: ↑Small , ↑Extremely smallThesaurus+: ↑Small in number and quantitysmallness /ˈsmɔːl.nəs/ aep /ˈsmɑːl-/ noun [U]► F0» The smallness of the city often surprises first-time visitors.Thesaurus+: ↑Small , ↑Extremely small
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Extra Examples:» We're having a small drinks party next Thursday.» The apartments are very small, which is fine for one person.» The company was still very small when I first joined.» We spent our holidays in a small French town.» The house has a large back garden, and a small front garden.adjective (NOT IMPORTANT)
► A2 not very important or not likely to cause problems: » She just made a couple of small mistakes in the test.» I have a small problem I would like to discuss with you.adjective (YOUNG)
► A1 describes a very young child that is older than a baby: » Looking after small children can be very tiring.Thesaurus+: ↑Describing people who are youngsmallness /ˈsmɔːl.nəs/ aep /ˈsmɑːl-/ noun [U]► F0» The smallness of the city often surprises first-time visitors.Thesaurus+: ↑Small , ↑Extremely small
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Extra Examples:» They have two small children.» A small child stood sullenly by her side.» Having small children really restricts your social life.» With four small children running around, the place is a madhouse.» Is this film appropriate for small children?adjective [before noun] (LIMITED ACTIVITY)
► F0 limited in the amount of an activity: » The government should give more help to small businessmen (= people whose businesses are of a limited size).» Chris is quite a small eater so he won't want much.» If you can help us in a small way (= to a limited degree) it would be greatly appreciated.Thesaurus+: ↑Small in number and quantityadverb
► F0 in a small size: » The instructions are printed so small I can hardly read them.Thesaurus+: ↑Small , ↑Extremely smallnoun (BODY)
the small of your back► F0 the middle of the lower back: » I have a pain in the small of my back.See picture: small of the back 
Thesaurus+: ↑The human torso
noun (UNDERWEAR)
smalls [plural] UK OLD-FASHIONED INFORMAL► F0 underwear, especially when being washed or about to be washed: » Have you got any smalls that need washing?Thesaurus+: ↑Underwear- ↑Drinks - general words
- ↑Drivers
- ↑Driving and operating road vehicles
- ↑Drug addiction
- ↑Drugs - general words
- ↑Drunkenness and sobriety
- ↑Dry weather, arid conditions and dryness
- ↑Ducks, geese and game birds
- ↑Duty, obligation and responsibility
- ↑Early
- ↑Earning money and money earned
- ↑Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
- ↑Easiness and simplicity
- ↑Easy to understand
- better off
- betters
- better safe than sorry
- better still
- better the devil you know
- better the devil you know (than the devil you don't)
- better the devil you know than the devil you don't
- better yourself
- betting
- betting shop
- be tucked