Definition of "little" in 英语

adjective

1. Small in size.

   • This is a little table.
   • It’s only a little way now.

2. Insignificant, trivial.

   • It’s of little importance.

3. Very young, of childhood age.

   • Did he tell you any embarrassing stories about when she was little?
   • That’s the biggest little boy I’ve ever seen.

4. (of a sibling) Younger.

   • This is my little sister.

5. (often capitalized) Used with the name of a place, especially of a country or its capital, to denote a neighborhood whose residents or storekeepers are from that place.

   • If you want to find Little France, take any turning on the north side of Leicester square, and wander in a zigzag fashion Oxford Streetwards. The Little is rather smokier and more squalid than the Great France upon the other side of the Manche.

6. Having few members.

   • little herd

7. (of an industry or other field, or institution(s) therein, often capitalized) Operating on a small scale.

   • Little Steel
   • Little Science

8. Short in duration; brief.

   • I feel better after my little sleep.

9. Small in extent of views or sympathies; narrow, shallow, contracted; mean, illiberal, ungenerous.

adverb

1. Not much.

   • This is a little-known fact: the new model is little faster than the old one.
   • She spoke little and listened less.
   • We slept very little last night.

2. Not at all.

   • Little did he know she never did like him, did he? - Certainly, he little knew what awaited him.

determiner

1. Not much, only a little: only a small amount (of).

   • There is (very) little water left.
   • We had very little to do.

pronoun

1. Not much; not a large amount.

   • Little is known about his early life.

noun

1. (chiefly uncountable or in the singular) A small amount.

   • I hope the little we've done will be useful.
   • Little did he do to make me comfortable.