smallest

1. 1
   adjective

   Superlative of small.

   The smallest of the three rooms barely held a single bed.

   Even the smallest error in the calculation threw off the entire result.

   Note

   A regular superlative, made by adding -est, with smaller as its comparative. It carries most of small's meanings: the least in size or number, but also the most paltry or mean-spirited. It does not carry them all, though. Small meaning "young" (a small child) and small meaning "lowercase" (small letters) do not grade, so smallest never means youngest, and it never means the most lowercase.

2. 2
   adverb

   Superlative of small.

   She folds the laundry smallest of anyone, fitting twice as much into each drawer.

   The new font renders smallest on screen while staying readable.

   Note

   As an adverb it follows its verb: a thing folds, cuts or renders smallest. Its living meanings come from small used of manner or of pieces, as in chop it small. The old adverbial small meaning "softly" or "to a small extent" is obsolete. So smallest is no modern way to say "most quietly" or "least". For degree, use least, and leave size itself to the adjective.

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