small
small (smôl) adjective
Abbr. s., sm.
1. Being below the average in size or magnitude.
2. Limited in importance or significance; trivial: a small matter.
3. Limited in degree or scope: small farm operations.
4. Lacking position, influence, or status; minor: "A crowd of small writers had vainly attempted to rival Addison" (Macaulay).
5. Unpretentious; modest: made a small living; helped the cause in my own small way.
6. Not fully grown; very young.
7. Narrow in outlook; petty: a small mind.
8. Having been belittled; humiliated: Their comments made me feel small.
9. Diluted; weak. Used of alcoholic beverages.
10. Lacking force or volume: a small voice.
adverb
1. In small pieces: Cut the meat up small.
2. Without loudness or forcefulness; softly.
3. In a small manner.
noun
1. Something smaller than the rest: the small of the back.
2. smalls a. Small things considered as a group. b. Chiefly British. Small items of clothing.
[Middle English smal, from Old English smæl.]
smallʹish adjective
smallʹness noun
Synonyms: small, diminutive, little, miniature, minuscule, minute, petite, tiny, wee. The central meaning shared by these adjectives is "being notably below the average in size or magnitude": a small house; diminutive in stature; little hands; a miniature camera; a minuscule amount of rain; minute errors; a petite figure; tiny feet; a wee bit better.
Antonyms: large.