less

less  (ls)

adj. A comparative of little.

1. Not as great in amount or quantity: had less time to spend with the family.

2. Lower in importance, esteem, or rank: no less a person than the ambassador.

3. Consisting of a smaller number. See Usage Note at few.

prep.

With the deduction of; minus: Five less two is three.

adv. Comparative of little.

To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency: less happy; less expensive.

n.

1. A smaller amount: She received less than she asked for.

2. Something not as important as something else: People have been punished for less.

Idioms:

less than

Not at all: He had a less than favorable view of the matter.

much/still less

Certainly not: I'm not blaming anyone, much less you.

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[Middle English lesse, from Old English lssa (adj.) and ls (adv.); see leis-² in Indo-European roots.]

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less

Adjective

1. the comparative of little: less fibre

2. Not standard fewer

Adverb

1. the comparative of little: eat less

2. less of to a smaller extent or degree: it would become less of a problem

3. no less Sometimes ironic used to indicate admiration or surprise: sculpted by a famous Frenchman, Rodin no less

prep

minus: a two pounds-a-week rise (less tax) [Old English lǣssa, lǣs]

USAGE: Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before.

Thesaurus

Adj.	1.	less - (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old" comparative, comparative degree - the comparative form of an adjective or adverb; "`faster' is the comparative of the adjective `fast'"; "`less famous' is the comparative degree of the adjective `famous'"; "`more surely' is the comparative of the adverb `surely'" slight, little - (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some; "little rain fell in May"; "gave it little thought"; "little time is left"; "we still have little money"; "a little hope remained"; "there's slight chance that it will work"; "there's a slight chance it will work" more, more than - (comparative of `much' used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning greater in size or amount or extent or degree; "more land"; "more support"; "more rain fell"; "more than a gallon"
	2.	less - (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect" inferior - of low or inferior quality
	3.	less - (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer; "less than three weeks"; "no less than 50 people attended"; "in 25 words or less" fewer - (comparative of `few' used with count nouns) quantifier meaning a smaller number of; "fewer birds came this year"; "the birds are fewer this year"; "fewer trains were late"
Adv.	1.	less - used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly" to a lesser extent more, to a greater extent - used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "more interesting"; "more beautiful"; "more quickly"
	2.	less - comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days" more - comparative of much; to a greater degree or extent; "he works more now"; "they eat more than they should"

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less

adjective 1. smaller, shorter, slighter, not so much

adverb 2. to a smaller extent, little, barely, not much, not so much, meagrely

preposition 3. minus, without, lacking, excepting, subtracting

USAGE Less should not be confused with fewer. Less refers strictly only to quantity and not to number: there is less water than before. Fewer means smaller in number: there are fewer people than before.

Translations

less [lɛs] adj (in size, degree etc) → menor;

(in quantity) → menos

pron, adv → menos;

less than half → menos de la mitad;

less than £1/a kilo/3 metres → menos de una libra/un kilo/3 metros;

less than ever → menos que nunca;

less 5% → menos el cinco por ciento;

less and less → cada vez menos;

the less he works... → cuanto menos trabaja ...

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less [lɛs] adj → moins de

pron, adv → moins

prep less tax/10% discount → avant impôt/moins 10% de remise;

less than that/you → moins que cela/vous;

less than half → moins de la moitié;

less than one/a kilo/3 metres → moins de un/d'un kilo/de 3 mètres;

less than ever → moins que jamais;

less and less → de moins en moins;

the less he works ... → moins il travaille ...

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less [lɛs] adj, pron, adv → weniger

prep less tax/10% discount → abzüglich Steuer/10% Rabatt;

less than half → weniger als die Hälfte;

less than ever → weniger denn je;

less and less → immer weniger;

the less he works ... → je weniger er arbeitet ...;

the Prime Minister, no less → kein Geringerer als der Premierminister

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less [lɛs] adj, pron, adv → meno;

less than you/ever → meno di lei/che mai;

less than half → meno della metà;

less and less → sempre meno;

the less he works ... → meno lavora ...;

less than £1/a kilo/3 metres → meno di una sterlina/un chilo/3 metri;

less 5% → meno il 5%