little
noun
adjective
Definitions of little adjective
size
- A1
small in size or amount
It was delivered in a small box.
a small dog/nose/room
A short old man entered the room.
age
- A1
young
Your hair was very curly when you were young.
She is my younger sister, and I am responsible for looking after her.
Her young son is feeling unwell.
emphasis
- B2Before noun
used to emphasize an opinion that is being given about something or someone
The suit she was wearing was really beautiful.
This is a pretty good restaurant, isn't it?
He is a truly unpleasant man.
importance
- B1Before noun
not very important or serious
My car had a minor issue, but it has been fixed now.
It's often the small things that have the biggest impact.
Can I have a brief word with you?
Phrases of little adjective
- a little something
a small quantity of food or drink.
• I usually have a little something around eleven o'clock in the morning.
adverb
Definitions of little adverb
quantity
- C1
not much
She got very little sleep that night.
a fact that is not well known
He had almost no idea what was going to happen to him.
Phrases of little adverb
- little by little
occurring slowly or in small increments; gradually.
• Little by little, she began to understand why he acted that way.
- a little (bit)
To a small extent or degree; slightly.
• I'm feeling a little bit excited about this project.
- little more/better
Not much more or better; only slightly improved or superior.
• The service at this hotel is little better than the one I stayed at last time.
pronoun
Definitions of little pronoun
quantity
- B1Singular
a small amount
I could only hear a small portion of what they were saying.
He avoids doing as much work as he can.
There is not much flour remaining, but you can have what little there is.
- B1
an amount that is not much or not enough
We did very little on Sunday.
Almost none of what he said made sense to me.
Regrettably, very few of the artist's works have been preserved.
determiner
Definitions of little determiner
quantity
- B1
not much or enough
There seems to be a very small chance of a ceasefire.
They don't have much money available.
The range of options is very limited.
Phrases of little determiner
- a little
A small quantity or degree of something.
• This shirt needs a little alteration.
Idioms
- make little of something
To treat something as unimportant or insignificant.
• She made little of the setback in the competition and quickly recovered.
- a little bird told me
Used to indicate that the source of information is confidential and the speaker does not want to reveal who provided it.
• "How did you find out about this secret?" "Oh, a little bird told me."