Little
Common English surname
Little means small in size, amount, or degree: a little house, a little money, a little while.
It often carries affection or diminishment: my little sister, a cute little café, his little scheme.
As an adverb, little means not much: She little knew what awaited her.
A little functions as a noun phrase meaning a small amount: Would you like a little?
The comparative and superlative forms—littler/littlest and less/least—divide by sense, with less/least preferred for quantity and littler/littlest for physical size, though usage varies.
Limited in size
- tinyExtremely small in size
- miniatureReduced-scale representation
- petiteSmall and delicate
- compactTightly packed together
wee · diminutive · teeny · mini · pint-sized · pocket-sized · bite-sized · itty-bitty
Scale with lowered third
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- pettyOf little importance
- triflingOf no real importance
negligible · inconsequential · unimportant · slight · modest · secondary · marginal · peripheral
Small in number
- scantBarely adequate amount
- meagerDeficient in quantity
- sparseThinly scattered or distributed
- minimalSmallest amount needed
scarce · mere · slight · trace · modest · bit · smidgen · pinch
small
Limited in size
compact · wee · diminutive · teeny · mini · pint-sized · pocket-sized · bite-sized · itty-bitty · minuscule
minor
Scale with lowered third
- trivialLacking significance or weight
- insignificantLacking importance or consequence
- pettyOf little importance
trifling · negligible · inconsequential · unimportant · slight · modest · secondary · marginal · peripheral · incidental
few
Small in number
minimal · scarce · mere · slight · trace · modest · bit · smidgen · pinch · dash
young
Not yet mature
infant · kid · tot · tyke · youngster · junior · youth · small fry · preschooler · kindergartener
brief
Short in duration
fleeting · passing · instant · temporary · momentary · while · spell · flash · jiffy · second
dear
Treasured or costly
- darlingBeloved person or pet
- preciousHighly esteemed, greatly valued
- sweetheartAffectionate name for beloved
beloved · cute · adorable · sweet · endearing · cherished · lovable · charming · delightful · angel
- a littleTo minor extent
- little girlYoung female child
- little bitSmall quantity or degree
- little brotherYounger male sibling
- little sisterYounger female sibling
- a little bitA small amount
littler, littlest, belittle, belittles, belittled, belittling, belittlement