Meaning of small In English

• 0 little in size or amount when compared with what is typical or average:

  • a small dog/house/car/country

  • I'd rather live in a small town than a big city.

  • Would you like a large or small cola with your burger?

  • Ella is the smallest girl in her class.

  • That jacket's too small for you.

  • He's small for his age.

  • Only a small number of applicants are successful.

  • The number of women in parliament is pitifully (= extremely) small.

  • Liqueurs are usually drunk in small quantities.

• 1 A small child is a very young child that is older than a baby:

  • Taking care of small children can be very tiring.

• 2 limited in the amount of an activity:

  • The government should give more help to small businessmen (= people whose businesses are of a limited size).

  • Chris is a small eater so he won't want much.

  • If you can help us in a small way (= to a limited degree) it would be greatly appreciated.

• 3 not very important or not likely to cause problems:

  • She just made a couple of small mistakes in the test.

  • I have a small problem I would like to discuss with you.

• 4 ashamed or weak:

  • Talking to her makes me feel small.

  • He's always trying to make me look small in front of my boss.

• 5 Small letters are not capital letters:

  • The poet e e cummings sometimes wrote his name with small letters.

• 6 in a small size:

  • The instructions are printed so small I can hardly read them.

• 7 the middle of the lower back:

  • I have a pain in the small of my back.

• 8 underwear, especially when being washed or about to be washed:

  • Do you have any smalls that need washing?

• 9 not big; less in size or amount than is average:

  • a small business

  • small lunches

  • He’s small for his age.

  • Those jackets come in small, medium, and large sizes.

  • Those sweaters are available in small, medium, and large (sizes).

• 10 (of children) very young:

  • His mother died when he was small.

• 11 not having much importance or effect:

  • a small problem

  • a small part in a movie

• 12 (of a letter of the alphabet) lowercase

• 13 in small pieces, or in a size or amount that is less than average:

  • The ingredients are printed so small I can hardly read them.

• 14 limited in size, amount, activity, etc.:

  • Loans help small firms fund training.

  • The company made a small profit last year.

• 15 not very important or likely to cause problems:

  • Verna said the review team would not mire itself in such small details.

  • In the construction industry, small mistakes can become multi-million dollar problems.