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less - Meaning and Examples

Meaning of 'less' (Webster Dictionary)

1 . Less [ a.]
- Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before.
2 . Less [ adv.]
- Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful.
3 . Less [ conj.]
- Unless.
4 . Less [ n.]
- A smaller portion or quantity.
- The inferior, younger, or smaller.
5 . Less [ v. t.]
- To make less; to lessen.

Meaning of 'less' (Princeton's WordNet)

1 . less [ a]
Meaning (1):
- (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
Example in sentence:
  • a shower uses less water;
  • less than three years old;
  • less time to spend with the family;
  • of less importance
2 . less [ r]
Meaning (2):
- comparative of little
Example in sentence:
  • he works less these days;
  • she walks less than she should
Meaning (3):
- used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
Example in sentence:
  • less expensive;
  • less interesting;
  • less quickly;
  • more beautiful;
  • more interesting;
  • more quickly
4 . less [ s]
Meaning (4):
- (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
Example in sentence:
  • in 25 words or less;
  • less than three weeks;
  • no less than 50 people attended
Meaning (5):
- (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
Example in sentence:
  • no less than perfect

Nearby Words:

les lesbian lese lese-majesty lesion lessee lessen lessened lessener lessening

See 'less' also in:

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