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LESS
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
(comparative of 'little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
Example:
less than three years old
Classified under:
Also:
little; slight ((quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with 'a') at least some)
Domain usage:
comparative; comparative degree (the comparative form of an adjective or adverb)
Antonym:
more ((comparative of 'much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree)
Sense 2
Meaning:
(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
Example:
in 25 words or less
Classified under:
Similar:
fewer ((comparative of 'few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of)
Sense 3
Meaning:
(usually preceded by 'no') lower in quality
Example:
no less than perfect
Classified under:
Adjectives
Similar:
inferior (of low or inferior quality)
II. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
Example:
less quickly
Synonyms:
less; to a lesser extent
Classified under:
Antonym:
more (used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Comparative of little
Example:
he works less these days
Classified under:
Antonym:
more (comparative of much; to a greater degree or extent)
Context examples:
Well, last evening we went up to the castle about sunset, at least all of us but Fred, who was to meet us there after going to the Post Restante for letters.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
I had been at the window somewhat less than half an hour, when I saw something coming out of the Count's window.
(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)
As the fall of the year came on, the moose appeared in greater abundance, moving slowly down to meet the winter in the lower and less rigorous valleys.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
The doctor said Brenda must have been dead at least six hours.
(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
From nineteen they were already reduced to fifteen, two others were wounded, and one at least—the man shot beside the gun—severely wounded, if he were not dead.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
No sir, I make it a rule of mine: the more it looks like Queer Street, the less I ask.
(The Strange Case Of Dr. Jekyll And Mr. Hyde, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
“You will ask my pardon for that speech, sir, for it is from no less a person than Sir Charles Tregellis, my own brother.”
(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
When you have been a year with the Company you will think less of such matters.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
So what makes a person spend more or less energy?
(Spending more time standing helps increase energy expenditure and combats the effects of a sedentary lifestyle, University of Granada)
NGTS-1b's mass is less than Jupiter, about 0.812 MJ (mass of Jupiter), but it has greater volume, with radius about 1.33 RJ (radius of Jupiter).
(Astronomers report dwarf star with unexpectedly giant planet, Wikinews)
