adjective | adjective, pronoun
littlelittle1 /ˈlɪtl/ adjective 1 
not large in size► little not large in size: The little boy was walking home from school. The cake was decorated with little flowers. ➔ Little is often used with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something small: What a cute little kitten! | They bought a nice little house near the beach.
► small small means the same as little but sounds slightly more formal: It is easier to drive a small car in the city. These shoes are too small for me. A small woman with straight dark hair was in the kitchen.
► tiny very small: Have you seen her apartment? It is tiny. He touched the tiny fingers of the baby.
► low not high, or not far above the ground. You use low about things such as mountains or walls: The kids built a low wall around the sandcastle.
► miniature much smaller than the usual size. You use miniature especially about things that are made to look just like something larger: The children made miniature houses out of cardboard.
► compact small, but comfortable, convenient, or easy to carry: The kitchen in the apartment was perfect - compact but with everything we needed. I want a compact camera that will fit easily in my pocket.
► minute very small and difficult to see: Many larger fish eat these minute shrimp.
► microscopic extremely small and impossible to see without a scientific tool called a microscope: The microscopic cells in your body that absorb food are called microvilli.
► minuscule extremely small, especially in a way that seems surprising: Compared to its adult size, a newborn kangaroo is minuscule.
ANTONYMS ➔ see big (1), big (2)2 not important or not having a large effect► little not very important or noticeable: Nick gave a little nod of his head. The program has had little effect on poverty in the area. ➔ GRAMMAR: Little is only used before a noun. Don't say: The difference between them was little. Say: There was little difference between them.
► small not important or not having a large effect: We may have to make a few small changes. The difference between the two prices is fairly small.
► slight slight means the same as little but is more formal: The doctor says there has been a slight improvement in her condition. There was a slight smile on his face.
► minor AWL not important enough or serious enough to worry about: We have made some minor changes to the program.
► superficial not serious or important and not having much effect on the way something works: Fortunately her injuries were not serious - they were just superficial cuts and bruises.
ANTONYMS ➔ see big (4), important (1) ➔ see some adjective | adjective, pronoun
littlelittle2 /ˈlɪtl/ adjective, pronoun (formal)1 not much► little adjective, pronoun (formal) not a lot of something, especially when this is less than what you want or expect: We have very little time to finish the project. There is little chance that the dog will be found. Leslie could understand little of what they were saying. ➔ GRAMMAR: Little is not used before plural nouns. Don't say: There are little hours left. Say: There is little time left or There are few hours left.
► not much adjective, pronoun a smaller amount of something than you wanted, expected, or needed: It is very cold, but there’s not much snow on the ground. You can use my shampoo, but there’s not much of it left. ➔ GRAMMAR: Not much is not used before plural nouns.
► hardly any adjective, pronoun only a very small amount: There’s hardly any milk left. Should I buy some more?
► almost no adjective so small an amount that there is almost none: By the end of the trip, we had almost no money.
➔ see few (1)2 a small amount► a little adjective, pronoun an amount that is not large: “Is there any coffee left?” “Only a little.” Just use a little glue, not too much. He was a little upset, but he’s okay now.
► a small amount pronoun an amount that is not large, especially when the amount is measured: Pour a small amount of oil in the pan.
► a little bit of adjective a little bit of means the same as a little but is more informal: I just want to have a little bit of fun.
ANTONYMS ➔ see a lot ➔ see short, small