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adj. small·er, small·est 1. a. Being below average in size: a small car. b. Being below average in quantity or extent: a small donation; a small project. 2. Limited in importance or significance; trivial: a small matter. 3. Having limited position, influence, or status; minor: "A crowd of small writers had vainly attempted to rival Addison" (Thomas Macaulay). 4. Unpretentious; modest: made a small living; helped the cause in my own small way. 5. Not fully grown; very young: a small child. 6. Narrow in outlook; petty: a small mind. 7. Having been belittled; humiliated: Their comments made me feel small. 8. Diluted; weak. Used of alcoholic beverages. 9. Lacking force or volume: a small voice. 10. Lowercase: Type the password in small letters. adv. 1. In small pieces: Cut the meat up small. 2. Without loudness or forcefulness; softly. 3. In a small manner. n. 1. A part that is smaller or narrower 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.] smallish adj. smallness n. Synonyms: small, diminutive, little, miniature, minuscule, minute2, petite, tiny, wee1 These adjectives mean 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 puppy. Antonym: large |
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