small

/smɔ:l/

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Word: Small

Part of Speech: Adjective (can also function as a noun)

Definition: "Small" describes something that is little in size, amount, or degree. It can also refer to something that is modest or not large in importance or status.

Usage Instructions:

1. As an Adjective: Use "small" to describe physical size, amount, or importance.
2. As a Noun: It can refer to a size category in clothing (e.g., "I wear a small") or describe something that is small in quantity (e.g., "a small of the back").

Examples:

• Physical Size: "I have a small dog." (indicating the dog is little)
• Amount: "She has a small amount of money." (indicating not much money)
• Importance: "He made a small contribution to the project." (indicating it was not a large contribution)

Advanced Usage:

• Metaphorical: "His comments made me feel small." (meaning he made her feel less important)
• In Literature: "The poet wrote in small letters." (referring to lowercase)

Word Variants:

• Noun: smallness (the quality of being small)
• Adverb: small-scale (referring to something limited in size or extent)

Different Meanings:

1. Physical Size: A small room (a room that is little)
2. Amount: A small number (not many)
3. Status/Importance: A small business (a business that is not large or influential)

Synonyms:

• Little
• Tiny
• Miniature
• Modest
• Minor

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• "Small talk": Casual conversation about unimportant or trivial matters.
• "Think small": To focus on small details or minor goals rather than grand ambitions.

Academic

Adjective

1. made to seem smaller or less (especially in worth)
   • her comments made me feel small
2. not large but sufficient in size or amount
   • a modest salary
   • modest inflation
   • helped in my own small way
3. have fine or very small constituent particles
   • a small misty rain
4. (of a voice) faint
   • a little voice
   • a still small voice
5. lowercase
   • little a
   • small a
   • e.e.cummings's poetry is written all in minuscule letters
6. low or inferior in station or quality
   • a humble cottage
   • a lowly parish priest
   • a modest man of the people
   • small beginnings
7. slight or limited; especially in degree or intensity or scope
   • a series of death struggles with small time in between
8. (of children and animals) young, immature
   • what a big little boy you are
   • small children
9. limited in size or scope
   • a small business
   • a newspaper with a modest circulation
   • small-scale plans
   • a pocket-size country
10. limited or below average in number or quantity or magnitude or extent
    • a little dining room
    • a little house
    • a small car
    • a little (or small) group

Adverb

1. on a small scale
   • think small

Noun

1. a garment size for a small person
2. the slender part of the back

Synonyms

• belittled
• diminished
• modest
• little
• minuscule
• humble
• low
• lowly
• small
• minor
• small-scale
• pocket-size
• pocket-sized