# small

Pronunciation: say "SMAWL" US /smɔl/, UK /smɔːl/

## Adjective

1. Little in size, amount, or number; not significant.
   - Simple: Little in size, amount, or number, or not very important.
   - _The startup began with a small team of five people._
   - _Only a small fraction of the audience stayed until the end._
2. Operating on a limited scale, unlike larger competitors in the same field, as a business or industry.
   - Simple: Run on a limited scale, not as big as larger companies.
   - _Small businesses received emergency loans during the downturn._
   - _He prefers buying from small producers rather than national chains._
3. Young in age, as a child is.
   - Simple: Young in age, like a child who has not grown up yet.
   - _I learned to swim when I was quite small._
   - _Their daughter was still small when they moved abroad._
5. Of the standard size sold under the name small, especially for clothing, food, or drink.
   - Simple: Of the size called small when you buy clothes, food, or drinks.
   - _He bought the small jersey since the medium was too loose._
   - _Could I get a small fries and a medium iced tea, please?_
6. Of a voice or sound, quiet and weak, often in a way that shows shyness, fear or sadness.
   - Simple: Of a voice or sound, quiet and weak, often because the person is shy, scared or sad.
   - _When the doctor asked how she felt, she answered in a small, shaky voice._
   - _His voice grew smaller with every question about the missing money._
7. Showing little worth or generosity of character; petty, mean, or narrow-minded.
   - Simple: Mean and selfish, thinking only in unkind ways.
   - _Spreading those rumors was a small and spiteful act._
   - _Only a very small man would gloat over a rival's bad luck._
8. Feeling humiliated, ashamed, or reduced in importance.
   - Simple: Feeling ashamed and unimportant, as if you do not matter.
   - _Their constant criticism made him feel small and worthless._
   - _She left the meeting feeling small after her idea was dismissed._
9. Continuing for only a short time; brief in duration.
   - Simple: Lasting only a short time, not long at all.
   - _He took a small break between the two long meetings._
   - _There was only a small interval between the lightning and the thunder._
12. Lowercase rather than capital, referring to a written or printed letter.
   - Simple: Written as a lowercase letter, not a capital one.
   - _Spell the brand with a small 'e' at the beginning._
   - _He always writes his initials in small letters._

## Noun

4. The standard size named small, below medium, in which clothing, drinks, or other items are sold; an item in that size, or a person who wears it.
   - Simple: The size called small, below medium, for clothes or drinks, or something in that size, or a person who wears it.
   - _The barista handed her a small with extra foam._
   - _She tried on the medium, then exchanged it for a small._
14. The narrow lower part of the back, in the phrase the small of the back; rarely, the narrowest part of anything else.
   - Simple: The narrow lower part of your back, or, rarely, the narrowest part of something else.
   - _A dull ache settled in the small of her back after the long drive._
   - _The jacket bunched up at the small of his back._

## Adverb

10. On a modest or limited scale; in a small way.
   - Simple: In a way that is not big, on a small scale.
   - _The firm started small before expanding across the country._
   - _She invests small, never risking more than she can lose._
13. Cut or divided into small pieces; finely.
   - Simple: Cut or broken up into very tiny pieces.
   - _Dice the carrots small and add them to the broth._
   - _He had chopped the parsley small before garnishing the dish._

## Verb

11. To make or become smaller, less, or fewer. *(rare)*
   - Simple: To make something smaller, or to become smaller.

## Adverb

15. To a slight degree; only a little. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Only a little, not very much.
16. In a thin, high or gentle voice, as a woman or child might speak. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: With a quiet, thin, high voice.

## Adjective

17. Slender and gracefully slim in build. *(archaic)*
   - Simple: Thin and graceful in shape.

## Origin

Proto-Germanic *smalaz, traditionally traced to Proto-Indo-European *(s)mal-, *(s)mel-, gave Old English smæl ("small, narrow, slender") and Middle English smal. Its relatives include Dutch smal ("narrow"), German schmal ("narrow, small"), and Scandinavian smal ("narrow, thin, slender").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/small (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).