Less
[les] or [lɛs]
Definition
(adj.) (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer; 'less than three weeks'; 'no less than 50 people attended'; 'in 25 words or less' .
(adj.) (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; 'no less than perfect' .
(adj.) (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; 'of less importance'; 'less time to spend with the family'; 'a shower uses less water'; 'less than three years old' .
(adv.) used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; 'less interesting'; 'less expensive'; 'less quickly'.
(adv.) comparative of little; 'she walks less than she should'; 'he works less these days'.
Typist: Millie--From WordNet
Definition
(conj.) Unless.
(a.) Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
(adv.) Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
(n.) A smaller portion or quantity.
(n.) The inferior, younger, or smaller.
(v. t.) To make less; to lessen.
Checked by Jennie
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. Smaller, inferior.
ad. Not so much, in a less degree.
n. Not so much, smaller quantity.
Editor: Vito
Definition
adj. (serves as comp. of little) diminished: smaller.—adv. not so much: in a lower degree.—n. a smaller portion: (B.) the inferior or younger.
Inputed by Eleanor
Examples
- They mostly began to reign as old men, and their reigns were short, averaging less than two years each. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- It would be difficult to find a human being less likely to arouse affection. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The weight of old Sabor was immense, and when she braced her huge paws nothing less than Tantor, the elephant, himself, could have budged her. Edgar Rice Burroughs. Tarzan of the Apes.
- In less than half an hour I knew as much as the Sergeant himself. Wilkie Collins. The Moonstone.
- Your favourable opinion then, my Precious, does less than justice to Mr Boffin, and more than justice to me. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- The Eastern German front was more extended and less systematically entrenched than the Western. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- But in reality travelling interested her even less than he had expected. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- They would manufacture more and plough less. Benjamin Franklin. Memoirs of Benjamin Franklin.
- You take an eager interest in that gentleman's concerns, said Darcy, in a less tranquil tone, and with a heightened colour. Jane Austen. Pride and Prejudice.
- I hope time has not made you less willing to pardon. Jane Austen. Emma.
- I am less unfit to teach in a school than in a family. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- If I loved you less, I might be able to talk about it more. Jane Austen. Emma.
- If,' said Mr. Stiggins--'if there is any one of them less odious than another, it is the liquor called rum. Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- If you ever say less than this, you will be guilty of deliberate falsehood to me. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- His services, with rare exceptions, grow less valuable as he advances in age and nervous strain breaks him down. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- Capacity freight engine, ten tons net freight; cost of handling a ton of freight per mile per horse-power to be less than ordinary locomotive. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- It seems to me that she might, by merely sitting quietly at his side, saying little and looking less, get nigher his heart. Charlotte Bronte. Jane Eyre.
- In less than half an hour after Colonel Berkeley's arrival in bounced Lord Deerhurst, in an agony of tears! Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Later on there was more grace and less coarseness in the human representations. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- But it means its continuation under conditions where it has much less justification for existence. John Dewey. Democracy and Education.
- Elinor submitted to the arrangement which counteracted her wishes with less reluctance than she had expected to feel. Jane Austen. Sense and Sensibility.
- In 1793 the total export of cotton from the United States was less than ten thousand bales, but by 1860 the export was four million bales. Rupert S. Holland. Historic Inventions.
- It was of less immediate practical importance that it frequently defined them wrongly. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- However, Mr. George resumes, the less said about it, the better now. Charles Dickens. Bleak House.
- In less than an hour poor Fanny opened her eyes and fixed them on me with a bright smile, expressive of the purest happiness. Harriette Wilson. The Memoirs of Harriette Wilson.
- Virtue is free, and as a man honours or dishonours her he will have more or less of her; the responsibility is with the chooser--God is justified. Plato. The Republic.
- The shrewd prophecy is made that gas will be manufactured less for lighting, as the result of electrical competition, and more and more for heating, etc. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- The railways reduced this journey for any ordinary traveller to less than forty-eight hours. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Then I see still less reason for listening to them. Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- At one time I considered whether I should not declare myself guilty, and suffer the penalty of the law, less innocent than poor Justine had been. Mary Shelley. Frankenstein_Or_The Modern Prometheus.
Inputed by Eleanor