small1 adjectivesmall2 noun
smallsmall1 /smɔːl $ smɒːl/ ●●● S1 W1 adjective (comparative smaller, superlative smallest) 
WORD ORIGINsmall1
Origin:
Old English smælEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "It still hurts," he said in a small voice.
- Smaller cars use less gas.
- a small increase in food prices
- a small man in a dark suit
- A small number of protesters stood near the entrance to the plant.
- Be aware that women and small children, as well as men, can be pickpockets.
- Bobby's small for his age, but he's perfectly healthy.
- Government statistics showed a small drop in the annual rate of inflation.
- His office was a small room at the top of the building.
- How come I always seem to go out with small men?
- I want to make a few small changes to the design.
- Mrs Newman was a small and slightly plump, with a round face.
- My sister's quite a bit smaller and slimmer than me.
- Only a small number of people eventually turned up.
- People are buying smaller cars because they are cheaper to run.
- Private schools can offer smaller classes and more individual attention.
- Rhode Island is the smallest state in the nation.
- She soon discovered that looking after small children was very tiring.
- The kids were too small to really understand.
- The level of radiation in the atmosphere is really very small.
- But smaller deficits brought on either by spending cuts or higher taxes reduce purchasing power.
- He took it into a small booth under the stairs which evidently served him as darkroom.
- Highly suitable for a small children's collection with modest funds for annual updating of stock. 8.
- I've got a small cassette.
- It is important to use small bags, since a large number of acorns together will generate heat.
- Leonora had small, well-shaped hands and clasped his warmly.
- On the mainland, the small beaches were faintly visible, the surf like a tiny ruffle of white lace.
- Wonford House was a smaller, more modern, hospital.
THESAURUS
not large in size, amount, or effect: · a small boat· small businesses· a small amount of money· small changes
[usually before noun] small – used about objects, places, and living things. Used especially with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something: · It’s a very pretty little town.· The poor little dog has hurt its leg.· The cake was decorated with little flowers.
used about prices, rents, levels, or standards: · People on low incomes are finding it difficult to pay fuel bills.· The crime rate in the area is relatively low.
[usually before noun] small and not very important or not very noticeable: · a slight problem· There’s been a slight improvement in his health.· a slight increase in sales
small and not important or not serious: · minor injuries· We’ve made some minor changes to the program.
small – used about places, buildings etc in which space is used effectively, or about phones, cameras, cars etc which are designed to be much smaller than usual: · The apartments are very compact.· a compact camera· It is a pleasant and compact city.
especially British English used about a room, house etc that is too small: · a poky bedroom· a poky flat
used about a space, room, or vehicle that is too small because people do not have enough room to move around: · They all lived together in a cramped apartment.· The car feels cramped with four adults in it.
very small very small – used about objects, numbers, or amounts: · a tiny island· Dairy foods provide your body with a tiny amount of vitamin D.
informal very small – used for emphasis: · I’ll just have a teeny bit of cream.· There’s just one teeny little problem.· a teeny little house
extremely small and extremely difficult to see or notice: · They found minute traces of poison in his body.· The differences are minute.· minute creatures
a miniature camera, watch, railway etc is made in a very small size. A miniature horse, dog etc is bred to be a very small size: · The spy used a miniature camera.· the fashion for miniature pets
extremely small and impossible to see without special equipment: · microscopic organisms· microscopic particles of dust
extremely small in a surprising way: · She was wearing a minuscule bikini.· The threat from terrorism is minuscule compared to other risks in our lives.
[only before noun] American English informal very small: · An itty-bitty little bug crawled across his forehead.· We stayed at some itty-bitty hotel in a back street.
Longman Language Activatorsmall in size · His office was a small room at the top of the building.· Which is the smallest state in the US?· Mrs Newman was small and slightly plump, with a round face.· People are buying smaller cars because they are cheaper to run.· These shoes are too small for me.
small - use this especially to show how you feel about someone or something, for example to show that you like them, dislike them, or feel sorry for them: · It's just a little souvenir I brought back from Italy· What an annoying little boy!· Oh, the poor little thing, he's hurt his paw.· What a lovely little dog!· They bought a nice little house near the beach.
a house, room etc that is compact is small but comfortable and convenient, because the space has been used effectively; a compact camera, computer etc is designed to be small and easy to carry: · The apartment was ideal for the two of us - small but compact.· There is a compact dining area, which feels cozy rather than cramped.· The PowerShot is a compact unit that weighs less than 11 ounces and fits easily in your pocket.
: pocket calculator/torch/camera etc one that is small and that you can carry easily, for example in your pocket or bag: · Students are allowed to take pocket calculators into their exams.· She took a pocket mirror out of her handbag and put on some lipstick.· a pocket dictionary
an object that is dainty is small and delicate in an attractive way: · We drank Turkish coffee out of dainty china cups.· She was wearing a short black dress and dainty black sandals.
extremely small in size · Have you seen Vic's apartment? It's tiny.· Luke put out his hand and touched the tiny fingers of his baby daughter.· a tiny village in the mountainstiny little · The box was full of tiny little blue and white beads.
extremely small and difficult to see: · Police found minute traces of blood on the car seats.· Her writing's so minute that it's difficult to read.· The problem was caused by minute particles of dust getting in the disk drive.
a lot smaller than usual, especially in a way that seems surprising: · Compared to its adult size, a new-born kangaroo is minuscule.· The pool was surrounded by bronzed girls wearing minuscule bikinis.
an object or living creature that is microscopic is so small that it is difficult or impossible to see without using special equipment: · The skin is covered with microscopic hairs, invisible to the naked eye.· A primitive form of microscopic life may have existed on Mars billions of years ago.· Many of these organisms are microscopic in size.
very small, but made just like something of normal size: · Next to the beach there's a miniature railway.· The locket contained a miniature portrait of her late husband.· a miniature TV with a 2 inch screen
small numbers/amounts · There wasn't really much I could buy with such a small amount.· Only a small number of people eventually turned up.· The level of radiation in the atmosphere is really very small.
: low prices, wages, levels etc are less than usual or less than they should be: · It's a good time to buy a computer, because prices are low.· Farm workers are complaining about long hours and low wages.· Low interest rates mean good news for home owners.
a tiny number or amount is extremely small: · Only a tiny fraction of our profit comes from book sales.· You only need to use a tiny amount of salt.· The proportion of babies that suffer from the disease is tiny.a tiny majority (=a very small number of a much larger group): · Millions of people buy lottery tickets, but only a tiny majority ever win anything.
a minute amount is extremely small, and is often so small that it makes very little difference to something: · Only minute amounts of the chemical were found in the water supply.· The substance is so toxic that even a minute dose of it could be fatal.
small and not making much difference to something · I want to make a few small changes to the design.· There is still one small problem that we haven't dealt with.· Government statistics showed a small drop in the annual rate of inflation.
small and not very important or not very noticeable: · There has been a slight change of plan.· The doctor says there has been a slight improvement in her condition.· He was a good friend - always available to help at the slightest sign of need.not the slightest (=none at all): · Tom? I haven't the slightest idea where he is.· US foreign policy at the time hadn't made the slightest difference in the situation.
not important enough or serious enough to worry about: · She fell off her horse, but suffered only minor injuries.· The contract seems fine, except for a few minor details.· With one or two minor changes, the course is the same as last year.
an infinitesimal amount, risk etc is so small that it makes very little difference or is not worth worrying about: · Even an infinitesimal change in temperature will be recorded by the equipment.· I'd say the chances of your catching the disease are infinitesimal.
extremely small: · I've made one or two tiny alterations, but otherwise the house is the same as when I bought it.· There's been a tiny decrease in the number of people out of work.
a change or difference that is minute is so small that it is difficult to see it or notice any effects resulting from it: · The equipment records minute changes in air pressure.
rooms, houses etc that are too small a room, space, or vehicle that is cramped is uncomfortable because there is not enough space inside it for people to move around: · I hated working in that cramped little office.· Conditions on board the ship were extremely cramped.
British also dinky American small, unattractive, and uncomfortable to be in: · The whole family lives in two pokey little rooms at the back of the building.· There was only one dinky store with a few cans of soup and some other useless junk for sale.
to become smaller in size · The dot got smaller and smaller and vanished from the screen.· Am I getting fatter or are these jeans getting smaller?
if something shrinks , especially clothes, it becomes smaller because of the effect of water or heat: · Don't wash that sweater in the machine - it'll shrink.· Oh no! My skirt has shrunk!
if something such as a plant or a fruit shrivels or shrivels up , it becomes smaller as water is removed from it, for example as a result of heat: · Eventually the grapes will shrivel and become raisins,· The crops were beginning to shrivel up in the heat.
a small number of people or things a small number of people, things, places etc: · Most of the trees were destroyed by the fire, but a few survived.a few people/days/things etc: · She's gone to stay with her father for a few days.· Can I borrow a few dollars until I get paid?· I invited a few friends around on Saturday night.a few of (=a small number from a larger group): · Sean left the gate open and a few of the cows got out.
formal a few people, things, places etc, especially when they are part of a much bigger number: · Hundreds of people begin the training programme, but only a small number complete it successfully.a small number of: · Only a small number of people still speak Gaelic.· The new system is being tested in a small number of schools.· A relatively small number of industrially advanced countries control the world economy.
a smaller number than you expected or wanted: · "Were there many people at the show?" "No, not many."not many people/places etc: · There weren't many people at the party, but we still had a good time.· Not many restaurants stay open after midnight.not many of: · I think I'm quite a good cook but not many of my friends agree with me.
spoken a small number of people or things: · "Do you have any Bob Dylan albums?" "Yes, one or two."one or two people/places/questions etc: · We've had one or two problems with the car but nothing serious.· There are one or two things I'd like to ask you about.one or two of: · I only know the names of one or two of the new students.
especially spoken two, or a small number: · "How many drinks did you have?" "Just a couple."a couple of: · A couple of kids were playing in the street.· I saw her a couple of days ago.
a very small number of people or things, especially when this number is disappointing or surprising: · We offer a gym for our employees but only a handful ever use it.a handful of: · Only a handful of artists in Britain can make a living from painting.· A handful of people stayed after the concert to help clear the chairs away.
a small group of people or things from within a larger group, usually forming much less than half of the larger group: a minority of: · Only a minority of union members voted in favour of continuing the strike.a small/tiny etc minority: · Joyce is among the tiny minority of arthritis sufferers who experience these symptoms.· Every year more than three hundred students enter this program but only a small minority will go on to become lawyers.
if something is sparse , there are only very small amounts of it, especially spread over a large area: · sparse traffic· Trees are sparse in this part of the world because of the continuous wind that blows across the plains.
when clothes are not the right size · If the boots don't fit, we can return them tomorrow.not fit somebody · There was nothing wrong with the coat - we took it back to the shop because it didn't fit her.
· You can't wear your father's suit, it's far too big.· I have to buy Tim some new sandals. The ones he's wearing are too small.be too big/small for · Those jeans must be two sizes too big for you.
· I bought him a shirt, but it wasn't the right size.not be the right size for · That sweater won't be the right size for him -- he'll need an extra-large.
clothes that are tight are uncomfortable to wear because they are too small and press into your body: · I don't wear my black dress very much. It's very tight around the waist.· If your shirt collar's too tight, undo your top button.
if you can't get into a dress, skirt, trousers etc, you have difficulty putting them on because they are too small: · I put on five pounds over Christmas and now I can't get into these jeans.
a small amount of a substance · This glue's really strong - you only need to use a little.a little water/money/time etc · A little make-up would make her look so much more attractive.· The garden could do with a little rain.· Try putting a little oil on the hinge and see if it stops squeaking.a little more/less · If we all used a little less paper, we'd probably save a forest or two.a little of (=a small amount of a specific substance) · A little of the grease got on my skirt.
also a bit especially British informal a small amount of something: · You shouldn't have given me so much toothpaste - I only needed a little bit.a little bit of: · A bit of detergent should get that stain out of your collar.· Save a little bit of the paint to do the trim.
only a small amount of something - use this especially when you expect or need more: · "How much paper is there in the printer?" "Not much."not much water/money/time etc: · There's not much light in this room, is there?· It was very cold, but there wasn't much snow on the ground.not very much: · That's not very much paint if you're planning to paint the whole bedroom.not much of (=a small part of a specific substance): · You can use my shampoo but there's not much of it left.
use this especially when it is a measured amount: · Squeeze a small amount onto the palm of your hand and spread the gel evenly through your hair.a small amount of: · Stir-fry the vegetables in a small amount of oil.· Even a small amount of the drug can be detected in the test.· Small amounts of radiation were found on their clothing.in small amounts: · Fluorine is present in small amounts on Mars.
a small amount of a liquid, flowing out of something: · Because of the drought, the river has become little more than a trickle.trickle of: · There was a trickle of blood coming from the corner of his mouth.
a small amount of a liquid, cream, or powder which has been put onto a surface with something such as a brush or with the fingers: · Can I use some of your perfume? I just want to put a dab on my wrist.dab of: · She put a dab of ointment on the cut.· The car just needs a couple of dabs of paint here and there, and it'll be fine.
if something is low in fat, sugar, salt etc, it contains very little fat, sugar etc: low in: · The casserole is low in calories and fat.· These new industrial cleaners are much lower in ammonia and other dangerous chemicals than before.low-fat/-sugar/-cholesterol etc: · He's been on a low-cholesterol diet since his heart attack.low fat/sugar/cholesterol etc content: · Non-dairy toppings tend to have lower fat content than whipping cream.
a small amount of something such as a feeling etc · "Do you speak French?" "Just a little."a little trouble/patience/help etc · We had a little difficulty finding the place but we got there in the end.· You might need a little help getting started, but after that you should be fine.a little of · I can understand a little of the frustration he must be feeling.a little more/less · With a little more creativity they could have made the house look really nice.
also a bit especially British informal a little: · By now she was resisting him only a little bit.a little bit of: · We had a little bit of trouble reading his handwriting.· He brings a bit of experience and a lot of enthusiasm to the job.a (little) bit more/less: · I think a bit more discipline is needed with these children.
only a little: · Not much is known about her childhood.not much trouble/patience/help etc: · He doesn't have much experience of running a business.· It was clear that not much thought had been put into the plan.not very much: · We didn't have very much understanding of the problem then.
a little of something: · There is a small amount of truth to what he says.· Big improvements can be made with only a small amount of training and effort.
if there is an element of some quality such as truth, danger, or violence in something, there is a small amount of it, but enough to be noticed: · There is always an element of risk in mountain climbing.· She tried to maintain an element of mystery in her relationships.· Despite the agreement between the two countries, an element of uncertainty about the future remains.
: a taste of power/happiness/fame etc a short experience that shows you what it is like to have power, fame, happiness etc: · Alvin had had a brief taste of freedom and didn't want to live with his parents again.· She decided to become an actress after getting her first taste of fame in a local theatre production.
not tall not as tall as most people: · 'What does she look like?' 'She's short and fat, with brown hair.'· a short, stocky man with powerful shoulders· Mr Haddad was several inches shorter than his wife.
fairly short: · She's not very tall - about 1.4 metres, I'd say.· Well, I'm not very tall and my legs are short, so I always had trouble in the hurdle race.
not as big or as tall as most people: · a small man in a dark suit· How come I always seem to go out with small men?· My sister's quite a bit smaller and slimmer than me.small for his/her age (=smaller than other children of the same age): · Bobby's small for his age, but he's perfectly healthy.
short and small, used especially to describe children or old people: · We saw a little old lady with a walking-stick.· Who's this little boy in the blue sweater?· I haven't seen one of those since I was a little girl.
a woman who is petite is attractively short and thin: · His wife was a petite dark-haired woman in her early thirties.
a man who is stocky is fairly short and looks heavy and often strong: · Brandon's quite stocky really, isn't he?· He's a big stocky bloke and he plays rugby.
short and fat, especially in an unattractive way: · The cook was short and squat, with thick eyebrows and a slight moustache.· a shabby, squat, balding man in an old raincoat
not important formal not likely to cause problems or to have an important effect on something: · "I forgot to add the olive oil." "Don't worry -- it's not important."· I don't want to waste time arguing over unimportant details.· It is not important that you understand everything at this stage.· Critics have dismissed his work as unimportant.
a minor problem, accident, disagreement etc is small and does not have a serious effect or result: · Two car windows were broken and minor damage was done to some shops.· She suffered some minor injuries in the accident.· We've had a few minor problems with the new computer system.
not important enough to worry about, especially because there are other problems that are much more serious: · The level of radiation was considered 'insignificant' and not a danger to health.· There is a slight difference in the way men and women are affected by the drug, but this is not really significant.· After a week of negotiations, the differences between the two sides are now relatively insignificant.· EU financiers say that recent problems on the US stock markets were not significant for Europe.
something such as a problem, argument, or worry that is petty is so unimportant that it seems silly or selfish for someone to talk or worry about: · We started having arguments over petty little things.· The meeting spent too much time on petty issues, and didn't address the real problem.
unimportant and not serious, and not worth worrying about or spending time or effort on: · No, I don't think your question is trivial at all.· Why waste time watching trivial TV programs?· The issue of where the peace talks will be held may seem trivial, but to the participants it is very important.
not important and not likely to take long to deal with or correct: · Your essay's very good -- there are just one or two small points I'd like to discuss.· There were a couple of small things I wanted to talk to you about.· We had a few small problems when we were putting the design together, but it works fine now.
formal to not be important, and be unlikely to affect anything in a serious way: · If you're capable of doing the job, your age is of no importance.· These are small details and probably of no importance.
young · You're too young to smoke.· a single mother with two young children· When I was younger, I used to play a lot of baseball.· Her youngest son works for a television company.· At 35, he is the youngest person to hold this office.
especially spoken very young - use this to talk about a young child: · When I was little we used to go camping a lot.· There were three bridesmaids at the wedding, and even the little one behaved beautifully.little boy/girl (=a young child, or a young son or daughter): · They've been married for ten years and have two little girls.· Who's that little boy in the blue sweater?
young, usually less than about ten years old: · We loved going to the zoo when we were small.· The kids were too small to really understand.small children: · She soon discovered that looking after small children was very tiring.
WORD SETSA, nounABC, nounalpha, nounalphabet, nounalphabetical, adjectiveampersand, nounapostrophe, nounasterisk, nounB, nounbeta, nounblock capitals, nounblock letters, nounbrace, nounbracket, nounbracket, verbC, nouncapital, nouncapital, adjectivecapitalize, verbcaps, cedilla, nouncircumflex, nounclause, nouncolon, nouncomma, nounconsonant, nounCyrillic, adjectiveD, noundash, noundelta, noundiacritic, nounditto, nounE, nounexclamation mark, nounF, nounG, noungamma, nounGothic, adjectivegrave, adjectiveH, nounhyphen, nounI, nounIPA, nounJ, nounK, nounL, nounletter, nounlower case, nounM, nounN, nounNHS, the, O, nounoblique, nounomega, nounP, nounparenthesis, nounperiod, nounpunctuate, verbpunctuation, nounpunctuation mark, nounQ, nounquestion mark, nounquestion tag, nounquotation mark, nounR, nounrune, nounS, nounschwa, nounscript, nounsemicolon, nounslash, nounsmall, adjectivespeech marks, nounsquare bracket, nounstar, nounstenography, nounstress mark, nounT, nountilde, nounU, nounumlaut, nounupper case, nounV, nounvowel, nounW, nounX, nounY, nounZ, nounzed, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
Only a relatively small number of people were affected. a small amount of money A much smaller proportion of women are employed in senior positions. She jumped at any opportunity to make me look small. It must have cost him a small fortune.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a tiny amount of dirt a comparatively small number of people I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. She kept weighing herself to see how much heavier she was getting. For a relatively small outlay, you can start a home hairdressing business. Mutual funds have been attractive to small savers (=people who save small amounts of money). Always read the small print before you sign anything. We stood around making small talk. a small trader who sells hats in Oxford
Only a relatively small number of people were affected. a small amount of money A much smaller proportion of women are employed in senior positions. She jumped at any opportunity to make me look small. It must have cost him a small fortune. a tiny amount of dirt· My aunt only had a small appetite.
· She ate a light breakfast of toast and coffee.
· It was a project with a low budget.
(=that employs only a few people)· Many small businesses have been badly hit by the recession.
(=owning businesses that employ only a few people)· shopkeepers and other small businessmen
· We’re having a small celebration for Dad’s birthday.
· He only has a very small chance of being elected.· There’s a slight chance of some sunshine in the west.
· The proposed changes were relatively minor.
· For a small charge guests can use the hotel sauna.
(=a young one)· My family lived in France when I was a small child.
· Ken was the centre of a small circle of artists and writers.
(=not much comfort)· The tax changes will provide cold comfort to people living on a pension.
· 75% of the population live in small communities of fewer than 450 people.
· His father is the director of a small company.
a comparatively small number of people· Washington made a few minor concessions in the climate talks.
· He lived all his life in a small cottage by the river.
· tiny creatures such as mice
· The child gave a small cry and burst into tears.
· It’s only a small cut.
· There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird.
· If you spend over £50, you get a big discount.
· Even a small donation can make a big difference to one child's life.
· Treatment should be started with a small dose.
· The town experiences dozens of small earthquakes every year.
· Small economies like Kenya might struggle to survive in a global recession.
· The drugs have a relatively small effect on a lot of patients.
· The engine is small, so it's quite economical to run.
· The tax will affect owners of small-scale enterprises consisting of up to ten people.
· The letter contained some minor spelling errors.
· The library held a small exhibition showcasing the work of local artists.
(=a small amount)· The plan succeeded to a small extent.
· His small cold eyes seemed full of menace.
· She came from a large family of seven children.
· Can you do me a small favour?
· Some companies will sell the items for you, for a small fee.
· He trained with a small firm in Cardiff.
· The flat was too small for the three of them.
· He had small neat feet.
(=a very large amount of money)· He made a small fortune in the London property boom.
· Here’s a small gift to show our appreciation for all your hard work.
I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl.· Her handwriting was so tiny I couldn’t read it without my glasses.
· Yu Yin has tiny handwriting.
· The job interview proved to be much worse than I had imagined it would be.
· New technologies have only had a small impact on the overall level of employment.
· An apparently minor incident sparked off rioting.
· Rent takes a large chunk of their small income.
· Doctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.· The temperature increase was quite small.
· The bird’s natural diet mainly consists of small insects.
· It’s a small island, barely twenty miles long.
· He let out a nervous little laugh.
· Their small majority made them worried about winning the next election.
· Visitors from other parts of Scotland exceeded foreign visitors by only a small margin.
· The party won by a huge margin.
· He lost by only a narrow margin.
(=a matter that is not important)· Walking out over such a small matter may seem ridiculous.
· She is one of a small minority of women working in engineering.
(=something lucky but not very important)· I’d managed to produce a good meal in half an hour, which seemed like a minor miracle.
(=very early, before dawn)· I was woken up in the small hours of the morning by a strange sound.
· He had a big nose and a big mouth.· Billy’s wide mouth stretched into a grin.
· She made a restless little movement.
She kept weighing herself to see how much heavier she was getting.· She had high cheekbones and a small nose.
· The class had only a small number of students.
For a relatively small outlay, you can start a home hairdressing business.· Toby had a small part in the film.
· I don’t really like going to big parties.
· Some of the hills still had small patches of snow.
· Only a small percentage of people suffer from the allergy.
· A small portion of western Croatia remained under Habsburg control.
· One way of losing weight is to eat smaller portions.
(=something is worth suffering in order to achieve something more important)· Changing his job would be a small price to pay to keep his marriage intact.
· Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
· The business managed to produce a small profit last year.
· Remove a small quantity of butter from the fridge.
· There was a small queue of people waiting to see the doctor.
· He has had small roles in several other films.
Mutual funds have been attractive to small savers (=people who save small amounts of money).· They started by producing and selling on a small scale.
· She could see the small scar on his right cheek.
· We also have a small selection of offices for daily hire.
· There has been only a slight shift in income distribution.
· Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
· One problem was the very small size of the department.
· She politely accepted a small slice of pie.
Always read the small print before you sign anything. We stood around making small talk.· There was only a small space between the car and the wall.
· This is a small step in the right direction.
· Each year the inhabitants had to pay a small sum for the use of the pasture.
· There is a limited supply of land for building.
· I grew up in a small town in Iowa.· The nearest big town is 20 miles away.
a small trader who sells hats in Oxford· They come from a small village in Laos.
· He had just started learning English and his vocabulary was fairly limited.
(=quiet and not strong or confident)· She answered in a small voice, ‘I think I was afraid.’
(=with not many guests)· We had a quiet wedding, with just a few close friends and relatives.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Everything looks so much smaller from up here looking down than it does down below looking up.· Pure fusion bombs might be much smaller than existing bombs.· However, M33 is a much smaller and much looser system.· Chained to its banister are a ten-speed bicycle and another, much smaller, with training wheels.· Within this area, several males - smaller and less gaudy than the females - establish much smaller territories.· There are tens of thousands of successful entrepreneurs who have built much smaller enterprises.· The Clinton team fears the actual saving may be much smaller.· The apatite crystals are also much smaller being 200-300 Å long and 40-70 Å wide.
· The objective was to use a relatively small fission device to trigger-off a thermonuclear reaction of arbitrarily large yield.· They insist there is no pot of gold, but relatively small sums at best.· The buildings are now in increasingly better condition and most work is relatively small order.· Obviously the amount of money at issue is relatively small for the state government.· This number of letters is approximately 1,700 words and is a relatively small sample set.· This region played a relatively small part in the struggles which led up to the Sandinista revolution.· A relatively small withdrawal of oil from the world market in October 1973 was sufficient to precipitate an acute crisis.
· But the cylinders were so small they could not hold more than a minute of material.· Air molecules are so small that each weighs just five times ten to the minus twenty-six kilograms.· It held what he could almost call a loving look, and he didn't look so small and wizened.· Response was so small, however, that she changed her plan.· Well, really not much more than a single mew, it's so small.· But ethanol molecules, because they are so small and stable, are immune to acidic destruction.· Also, the boat was so small that when I rowed, the waves came over the sides of the boat.
· The lectern at the Guildhall is a classic example of one that looks beautiful but is too small and fragile to use.· Now, picture these as separate gemstones, each one is distinct, but much, much too small to see.· When she came back, Alice had changed into a cotton skirt and a white blouse that was too small for her.· I have lost this battle because my force was too small....· This argument is that the inverse relationship is a result of desperate families fighting for survival from too small pieces of land.· The constantly falling snow itself is too dry, and its crystals are thus too small, to stick to their backs.· His T-shirt was too small for him and came out of the waist of his pants.· It is shiny and much too small for her.
· Marcus sat carefully on the bunk, feeling that the walls were a long way away and that he was very small.· Those corkscrews that are tightly wound correspond to large momenta, and those that wind hardly at all give very small momenta.· It was very small, just a little bigger than my hand.· A high percentage of telephone operators are black, for example, but only a very small proportion of dental hygienists are.· The forces were found to be very small and use very little of the embryo's energy.· I expected some one very small or very tall.· Remarkably, the distances are very small.· Moreover, the data suggest that Baumol-type models can account for only a very small proportion of total transactions balances.
NOUN· In small amounts it can act as a stimulant, in larger doses causing hyperactivity, headaches and insomnia.· In the process, a small amount of blood is taken from the donor and typed.· Better to feed small amounts at regular intervals.· Substantially smaller amounts of shielding will undoubtedly admit much larger fluxes of harmful radiation.· Mr. Banks Given the nature of the tasks facing industry, that seems a rather small amount of money.· This covers a wide range of worship songs, but only a small amount of hymnody.· Make rewards contingent upon quite small amounts of progress.· Some tropical woods such as teak and green-heart contain small amounts of toxic chemicals and also of silica.
· Others may come or go, but the entire life-cycle of many is lived within the confines of quite small areas.· Damage to a small area occasionally leaves a person normal except for a very specific deficit.· They make up in quality for their comparatively small area.· Regularly, where intensive cultivation succeeds, civilized people in the Far East occupy only small areas.· This appears more often these days generally used to fill in small areas on the ubiquitous picture sweaters.· A comparatively small area is included in this zone.· It is not always easy to get up to date information on which to set the quotas, especially in a small area sample.· There is a smaller area of wall, broken by more extensive abutment.
· One participant had conducted some research into small businesses in West Belfast for a research report.· The people believed, and many of them were putting money into improving their homes, modernizing their small businesses.· These funds are designed to put capital into small businesses in different parts of the country.· Classes teach the basics of small business ownership such as accounting and customer service.· Historically, he said, entrepreneurship was the Cinderella of business studies, wrongly confused with the management of small businesses.· How businesses, especially small businesses, were supposed to survive interest rates at that level remains a mystery to me.· Primarily aimed at start-ups the courses will also be useful to those running an existing small business and keen to develop further.· The new series 6000i Model 640 supports up to 32 users and is suitable for small businesses, workgroups and development environments.
· In the beginning they demanded small change, but now they ask me for £2 or £3 every time they see me.· Since many exist on the margins of their environments, small changes may create big problems for them.· If evolution proceeds by a series of small changes, it is hard to see how it could be otherwise.· Very small changes make the biggest difference.· The other eight regions recorded significantly smaller changes - some good, some bad.· But it does permit small changes to take place and accumulate from one generation to the next.· The object was to study the effect of small changes in the exposure, illumination etc.· Even back then forty-five cents was small change.
· There is, therefore a significant risk of serious injury especially to small children.· I really expected to see the black pajamas, conical hats, and the small children scatter and expose the gunner.· Like John, Alan Wardle was knocked down as a small child.· Instead of limiting the program to small children who attended Gethsemane Missionary Baptist Church, he invited young people ages 10-18.· In her left hand she held the hand of a small child dressed in a raincoat at least eight sizes too big.· Women were carrying small children in their arms.· But only a small child tugs at the heart-strings.· He proceeded to murder two of the small children.
· For smaller companies, where financial controls are not highly developed, factoring may prove the answer.· Analysts and dealers attributed the gains in smaller companies to speculation about mergers and acquisitions, that are unlikely to happen.· More oil will be shipped by small companies.· A partnership with Mitsubishi, which has a presence in many rawmaterial markets, could help smaller companies, he said.· The small company of members looked completely dwarfed in the vast, cavernous space of the almost empty concert hall.· Myriad smaller companies also track and evaluate Web sites.· As a small company of 15 boys we find it hard to make ends meet.· But if 1996 belongs to smaller companies or foreign stocks, your portfolio could be left in the dust.
· Private ownership would grow gradually, with small firms multiplying even as big ones stayed in state hands.· In smaller firms, where they may work alongside the people they supervise, the office may be crowded and noisy.· He trained with a small firm in Cardiff.· The I-way makes this practice more affordable and easily available to a number of small firms.· For workers in small firms employment guarantees are very rare, working hours are longer and safety records poor.· Specialised assignments were often given to smaller firms offering particular expertise in that sector, with generally good results.· Local authorities are urged to provide guidance about suitable locations for small firms, and generally not to interfere with market forces.· This is the question of self-regulation, which is of concern to the Institute's practising members, particularly smaller firms.
· The anti-globalisation movement is in danger of being discredited because of the antics of a small group.· Virtually all instruction is in small groups or one on one.· The only proof provided for such inflammatory allegations is that anarchists are organising into small groups, and these groups are autonomous.· A smaller group will probably still be early preoperational, and another similar group will be late concrete operational.· Fortunately a small group of folk banded together determined to save the bird and the rescue operation began.· During this period, hunters lives in small groups of between twenty and sixty individuals.· In small groups they can decide in advance on the questions they want to ask.· A small group is easier for most group leaders to work with.
· Only a small minority broke through the restrictive moulds of clan traditions.· He seldom nods or smiles at the small minority of white and black independents.· At later stages a few problems did develop, but they involved only a small minority of the cases.· I think that only a small minority of quantum physicists would affirm such a view.· Hunter, far more than Allon, was in a very small minority.· A small minority drop showers of recoverable meteorites on the ground, but most are utterly disrupted in their final explosion.· In 1978 his views were shared by a small minority in the party.· A small minority of young people does drink excessively - that has probably always been true.
· ScotRail and InterCity say the services they are withdrawing or altering will affect a small number of commuters.· The response quite naturally is to form fewer families and to have smaller numbers of children.· Until the 1940s, the turkey was reared in relatively small numbers - up to 500 to a flock.· Interest aggregation is the transformation of all these political needs and wants into a smaller number of coherent alternatives. 6.· Throughout the war, others took their place but in much smaller numbers.· Considering the relatively small number of men actually at risk, the casualty rates were very high.· A small number of people think they have been infected through sucking.· Moreover, a small number of diseases command a large proportion of the limited resources.
· Meanwhile we have the jubilant pictures of Hillary Clinton celebrating her husband's triumph in which she has played no small part.· For the patterned butterflies I used a small part of the leaf design.· This region played a relatively small part in the struggles which led up to the Sandinista revolution.· How different is this deep breathing from the shallow, uncontrolled breathing which uses only a very small part of the lungs.· As a result they offered him small parts in the next two films in which Ken would star.· Talent plays but a small part in the proceedings.· After her spell in the Palace Girls she had graduated to playing small parts in the Blackpool shows.
· A much smaller percentage of pupils now leaves school without any qualifications.· Gold claimed that that was not true, that they were only talking about a very small percentage of women.· In fact, the diamonds we see in jewellers' windows are typical of only a small percentage of natural diamonds.· Other categories of business had smaller percentages.· That is a very small percentage of the total number whose lives are in danger.· The Austin event drew a smaller percentage of people over the age of 70 than they had hoped.· But we think only a small percentage of abused kids tell, as abusers are so good at silencing them.· Many agencies agreed to hire only a small percentage of welfare workers.
· You then need a small piece of wood to do the scribing.· He picked the can off the flame, using a small piece of cardboard to protect his fingers from the hot lid.· And looking tense and grim-faced, he walked slowly to the pulpit and read a statement from a small piece of paper.· The victim still had a small piece of metal from the van in his leg, he added.· Chop mango cubes into smaller pieces.· He screwed up the note into small pieces and looked around for others.· Eventually the straw-stuffed ox was weathered into small pieces.
· While the vast majority of offenders are men, a small proportion are women.· Such a tax takes a smaller and smaller proportion of income as income increases.· This represents only a small proportion of the structure.· Even so, as Table 4.1 shows, wholesale funding remains a comparatively small proportion of total liabilities.· Their short-term assets form a much smaller proportion of the total.· Although only a small proportion receive free food, about half of all farm workers in Britain live in tied accommodation.· From school, a small proportion proceed to institutions of further and higher education.· Refugees granted asylum or allowed to stay made up a small proportion-just over 10,000 in 1999.
· We can deliver them direct to site in bulk, small quantities, or in house sets.· He explained that sand bags cost $ 3 each when filled and purchased in small quantities.· During the afternoon he'd made a small quantity of Recipe 179 - enough to fill three biscuit tins.· Unfortunately they are seldom present in small quantities for long, as they soon cover the bottom from their rapid growth.· Except in small quantities or special cases, money now has to be raised through debt.· They are best enjoyed in small quantities.· The light type uses only small quantities of raw materials; e.g. for television, or for biscuits.· A small quantity went to Argonne and Battelle for experimental purposes.
· Teacher education is a smaller scale enterprise than it was at the time of the events I have recorded.· But what works on a small scale can be a disaster on a large scale.· Biofuels and wind power are regarded as the most promising technologies, along with small scale hydro and tidal power.· We exploited the economics of small scale and laid to rest the diseconomies of large scale.· Works, which had to be small scale, were submitted by both established and unknown artists.· Behaviors that are safe on a small scale can become catastrophic on larger ones.· Is what is small scale and open to observation by only one teacher capable of demonstrating a broader relevance?
· Such structures are generally therefore an integral part of the domestic and workshop accommodation available in all the small towns.· This is a small town, son.· She was the only physician in a small town and much loved by the people there.· The prominence of temples in the small towns is of some interest.· The impact of drought-damaged crops and low beef prices could mean a severe impact in many small towns.· What was Cambridge, after all, but a small town which had got above itself?· Brendan Murphy plays Salvatore Crosetti, a young man from a small town near Naples.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► conservative with a small ‘c’/democrat with a small ‘d’ etc► something is small potatoesPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a big fish in a little/small pond► don’t sweat the small stuff► (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that)
1size not large in size or amount: - A stream that looked small on the map had grown to be about 15 feet across.
- Corrigan felt small beads of sweat run from his armpits down his sides.
- Darren, looking small and extremely disgruntled, was slumped in the front left-hand seat.
- It makes him feel small and worthless.
- No to make me look small, that's her object!
- Ruth felt small and insecure, as if she were a child again.
- She stood trembling, staring at the blank window, feeling smaller than a baby.
- "I graduated from St. John's." "Really? So did my brother. Small world."
- Between them, the three main political parties spent a small fortune on this election.
- Chances are that such a trip would cost a small fortune, because it does not include a Saturday stay.
- He was making a small fortune with his spectacular ballets which toured the whole year round.
- If you are not following them closely you can cost yourself a small fortune and never know it...
- Keeping a car fully maintained at your local cost-a-lot garage can work out at a small fortune - and it never ends.
- Old man Riddle was cracked on religion and the old lady's father made a small fortune out of rabbit skins.
- The last-minute outbidding by opportunist builders is costing ordinary buyers a small fortune in lost fees.
- Twenty pounds was a small fortune to most cockneys.
- All this is very small change but very typical of our brother.
- Even back then forty-five cents was small change.
- For each member of the group, a small change of habit was the first step to an identity of its own.
- However, it does result in small changes in the tabulated values of the molar entropies of gases.
- Investors holding ninety-day Treasury bills experience very small changes in the value of those bills as interest rates fluctuate.
- Such small changes are invaluable in giving themes renewed vitality, while at the same time preserving unity.
- Try some of these steps: Make some small changes first.
- Very small changes make the biggest difference.
- From now on she could be grateful for small mercies and be content to take one step at a time.
- She wondered wryly whether to be thankful for small mercies, or to feel insulted.
- We danced until the small hours.
- A month ago he went into Edinburgh for a night out and in the small hours was stabbed to death.
- But private investors reacted quickly by buying equities in the small hours of yesterday morning.
- By night the bar is transformed into a disco, playing night-club sounds' til the small hours.
- Finally it was Trondur in the small hours of the morning who succeeded.
- In fact my whole being was permeated by the leaden-armed pervading weakness one feels when forced to work in the small hours.
- Nutty lay awake in the small hours, worrying herself stupid.
- The uneasy silence of the small hours fell over the hospital.
- At that point, small arms and automatic weapons opened up.
- Several Third World countries have themselves become suppliers of small arms for such conflicts.
- That does not include heaps of smaller arms and ammunition.
- The consensus is that the Kiev government has tightened controls over the small arms trade in recent months.
- The rebels have put up fierce resistance with small arms and rocket-propelled grenades.
- Then he opened up with small arms.
- A large body of theory and no small degree of controversy exist relative to the treatment of uncertainty.
- The idea suggests alignment of individual goals and group purposes, no small achievement.
- As a consequence, greater emphasis has been placed upon encouraging locally-based regeneration, and especially upon a revival of small firms.
- But it also is threatening the livelihoods of many small business operators in San Diego and elsewhere.
- Confiscatory taxes and overly complex tax regulations make it exceedingly difficult for small business to perform this basic function.
- On March 19 it passed a regulatory reform bill, which is intended to lighten the weight of government on small businesses.
- Paid holidays are 25 percent fewer in small firms and only half of this allowance is actually taken.
- The company also has expanded its offerings to help large and small businesses use the Internet and private computer networks.
- The Northern arm currently caters to the needs of more than 1,000 small businesses.
- The people believed, and many of them were putting money into improving their homes, modernizing their small businesses.
- Beggars were asking for small change.
- The program costs $20 million a year, small change in Washington.
- All this is very small change but very typical of our brother.
- Even back then forty-five cents was small change.
- For each member of the group, a small change of habit was the first step to an identity of its own.
- However, it does result in small changes in the tabulated values of the molar entropies of gases.
- Investors holding ninety-day Treasury bills experience very small changes in the value of those bills as interest rates fluctuate.
- Such small changes are invaluable in giving themes renewed vitality, while at the same time preserving unity.
- Try some of these steps: Make some small changes first.
- Very small changes make the biggest difference.
- The business won't go bankrupt, but that's cold comfort to the 15 people who lost their jobs.
- But this opposition misleads; charisma is cold comfort without expert management.
- Erratic hot winds kept the air thick with dust, and the fan gave small comfort to the feverish, aching children.
- Now, even these small comforts must be questioned.
- Perhaps it was ready? Small comfort, through ten guilt-ridden days.
- Precedent, however, suggests that his comments will offer only cold comfort to Mr Jiang and Mr Li.
- Rosy statistics on aggregate food production offer small comfort to nations that can not afford a seat at the banquet.
- The survival of slimmed-down companies is small comfort for people made redundant.
- They could explore the area, learn its resources and contrive small comforts in their rooms.
- But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
- His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
- On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
- Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
- There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
- There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
- This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
- What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
- But trading standards officers and the Consumers' Association are warning customers to scrutinise the small print.
- He starts to read one, clearly hoping to find the answer in the small print.
- His agent was sorting out the fine print.
- It is the broker's job to make sure the haulier fully understands the small print of the exemption and other clauses.
- It ought to be the fine print, not the screaming headline.
- New formulae claim anything from 15 to 24 hours' efficacy, so check the small print on the pack!
- You submit your offer on Form 656, but read the fine print on the back.
- Also on the small side is the 14-gallon fuel tank.
- Both versions have the same size fuel tank, which, at 14. 5 gallons, is on the small side.
- Burned by that experience, chip forecasters prepared their 1996 forecasts on the high side.
- For political reasons, these estimates are on the high side.
- The bedrooms, though on the small side, have recently been completed refurbished in sophisticated style.
- The clams and mussels-four of each-are on the small side, but flavorful.
- The little one's a bit on the small side.
- The only complaint we had with the shoe was the weight - it's on the heavy side.
- I had seen the movie before, but it didn't look as good on the small screen.
- It's one of the best shows ever seen on the small screen.
- The story of Hearst's life made it to the small screen last spring.
- The crows meanwhile have taken on another persona of small-time crooks.
- But even if this conclusion is not justified, we can say that infallible beliefs must have vanishingly small content.
- For just the same reason, it is vanishingly improbable that exactly the same evolutionary pathway should ever be travelled twice.
- If the object is very distant, linear magnification becomes vanishingly small.
- It would need a gigantic and vanishingly improbable leap across genetic hyperspace.
- On average, the chances of weediness emerging by accident are vanishingly small.
- Statistically, however, the chance of avoiding synonyms altogether is vanishingly small.
- Way back, something went bad in a big way.
- Actors are getting paid more than their worth all over Hollywood right now, and in a big way.
- But his baseball career has been resurrected in a big way this season.
- But I think we blew it in a big way.
- Colorado has taken to the sport in a big way.
- His ambulance service has taken off in a big way.
- I began to prepare in a small way to enjoy the Christmas in Bedford.
- This is something he has carried in a big way into his later professional life.
- The recording session extended into the wee hours.
- An ideal adventure for beginners, this one should have you plugging away till the wee small hours of the morning.
- For safety, a night light comes on at the top of the stairs when some one emerges in the wee hours.
- Soul musicians are, by nature, nocturnal, so many of his interviews would take place in the wee hours.
- Their video-age medicine shows run on dozens of cable and broadcast outlets in the wee hours.
- We got to Sabinal in the wee hours before dawn.
- Where else can such a thought be debated ad nauseam into the wee hours of a boring Tuesday?
a small piece of paper a small car a small town a small dark woman The T-shirt was too small for him. The sweater comes in three sizes – small, medium, and large. Only a relatively small number of people were affected. a small amount of money A much smaller proportion of women are employed in senior positions.► see thesaurus at short2not important a small problem, job, mistake etc is not important or does not have a large effect SYN minor: We may have to make a few small changes. There’s been a small problem. There’s only a small difference between them. It was good to feel we had helped in some small way.3no small degree/achievement/task etc a large degree, achievement etc: The success of the project is due in no small measure to the work of Dr Peterson. That is no small achievement in the circumstances.4young a small child is young: She has three small children. I’ve known him since he was a small boy.► see thesaurus at young5small business/firm/farmer etc a business that does not involve large amounts of money or does not employ a large number of people: grants for small businesses6letter small letters are letters in the form a, b, c etc rather than A, B, C etc SYN lower case OPP capital7conservative with a small ‘c’/democrat with a small ‘d’ etc informal someone who believes in the principles you have mentioned, but does not belong to an organized group or political party8voice a small voice is quiet and soft: ‘What about me?’ she asked in a small voice.9look/feel small to seem or feel stupid, unimportant, or ashamed: She jumped at any opportunity to make me look small.10(it’s a) small world especially spoken used to express surprise when you unexpectedly meet someone you know or find out that someone has an unexpected connection to you: Did you know David went to school with my brother? It’s a small world, isn’t it?11a small fortune a large amount of moneycost/spend/pay a small fortune It must have cost him a small fortune.12small change coins of low value: I didn’t have any small change for the parking meter.13be thankful/grateful for small mercies/favours to be pleased that a bad situation is not even worse: She wasn’t too badly hurt, so we should be thankful for small mercies.14the small hours (also the wee small hours British English) the early morning hours, between about one and four o’clockin/into the small hours He finally fell exhausted into bed in the small hours. The party continued into the wee small hours.15small arms guns that you hold with one or both hands when firing them16something is small potatoes (also something is small beer British English) informal used to say that someone or something is not important, especially when compared to other people or things: Even with £10,000 to invest, you are still small beer for most investment managers.—small adverb: He writes so small I can’t read it.—smallness noun [uncountable]GRAMMAR: Order of adjectivesIf there is more than one adjective, the adjectives are usually used in a fixed order.You say: · They live in a nice small town. ✗Don’t say: They live in a small nice town.You say: · She had a small white dog. ✗Don’t say: She had a white small dog.Grammar guide ‒ ADJECTIVESTHESAURUSsmall not large in size, amount, or effect: · a small boat· small businesses· a small amount of money· small changeslittle [usually before noun] small – used about objects, places, and living things. Used especially with other adjectives to show how you feel about someone or something: · It’s a very pretty little town.· The poor little dog has hurt its leg.· The cake was decorated with little flowers.low used about prices, rents, levels, or standards: · People on low incomes are finding it difficult to pay fuel bills.· The crime rate in the area is relatively low.slight [usually before noun] small and not very important or not very noticeable: · a slight problem· There’s been a slight improvement in his health.· a slight increase in salesminor small and not important or not serious: · minor injuries· We’ve made some minor changes to the program.compact small – used about places, buildings etc in which space is used effectively, or about phones, cameras, cars etc which are designed to be much smaller than usual: · The apartments are very compact.· a compact camera· It is a pleasant and compact city.poky especially British English used about a room, house etc that is too small: · a poky bedroom· a poky flatcramped used about a space, room, or vehicle that is too small because people do not have enough room to move around: · They all lived together in a cramped apartment.· The car feels cramped with four adults in it.very smalltiny very small – used about objects, numbers, or amounts: · a tiny island· Dairy foods provide your body with a tiny amount of vitamin D.teeny informal very small – used for emphasis: · I’ll just have a teeny bit of cream.· There’s just one teeny little problem.· a teeny little houseminute /maɪˈnjuːt $ -ˈnuːt/ extremely small and extremely difficult to see or notice: · They found minute traces of poison in his body.· The differences are minute.· minute creaturesminiature a miniature camera, watch, railway etc is made in a very small size. A miniature horse, dog etc is bred to be a very small size: · The spy used a miniature camera.· the fashion for miniature petsmicroscopic extremely small and impossible to see without special equipment: · microscopic organisms· microscopic particles of dustminuscule /ˈmɪnəskjuːl/ extremely small in a surprising way: · She was wearing a minuscule bikini.· The threat from terrorism is minuscule compared to other risks in our lives.itty-bitty/itsy-bitsy [only before noun] American English informal very small: · An itty-bitty little bug crawled across his forehead.· We stayed at some itty-bitty hotel in a back street.small1 adjectivesmall2 noun
smallsmall2 noun COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES a tiny amount of dirt a comparatively small number of people I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl. She kept weighing herself to see how much heavier she was getting. For a relatively small outlay, you can start a home hairdressing business. Mutual funds have been attractive to small savers (=people who save small amounts of money). Always read the small print before you sign anything. We stood around making small talk. a small trader who sells hats in Oxford
a tiny amount of dirt· My aunt only had a small appetite.
· She ate a light breakfast of toast and coffee.
· It was a project with a low budget.
(=that employs only a few people)· Many small businesses have been badly hit by the recession.
(=owning businesses that employ only a few people)· shopkeepers and other small businessmen
· We’re having a small celebration for Dad’s birthday.
· He only has a very small chance of being elected.· There’s a slight chance of some sunshine in the west.
· The proposed changes were relatively minor.
· For a small charge guests can use the hotel sauna.
(=a young one)· My family lived in France when I was a small child.
· Ken was the centre of a small circle of artists and writers.
(=not much comfort)· The tax changes will provide cold comfort to people living on a pension.
· 75% of the population live in small communities of fewer than 450 people.
· His father is the director of a small company.
a comparatively small number of people· Washington made a few minor concessions in the climate talks.
· He lived all his life in a small cottage by the river.
· tiny creatures such as mice
· The child gave a small cry and burst into tears.
· It’s only a small cut.
· There’s only a slight difference between the male and the female bird.
· If you spend over £50, you get a big discount.
· Even a small donation can make a big difference to one child's life.
· Treatment should be started with a small dose.
· The town experiences dozens of small earthquakes every year.
· Small economies like Kenya might struggle to survive in a global recession.
· The drugs have a relatively small effect on a lot of patients.
· The engine is small, so it's quite economical to run.
· The tax will affect owners of small-scale enterprises consisting of up to ten people.
· The letter contained some minor spelling errors.
· The library held a small exhibition showcasing the work of local artists.
(=a small amount)· The plan succeeded to a small extent.
· His small cold eyes seemed full of menace.
· She came from a large family of seven children.
· Can you do me a small favour?
· Some companies will sell the items for you, for a small fee.
· He trained with a small firm in Cardiff.
· The flat was too small for the three of them.
· He had small neat feet.
(=a very large amount of money)· He made a small fortune in the London property boom.
· Here’s a small gift to show our appreciation for all your hard work.
I’ve known Mollie ever since I was a little girl.· Her handwriting was so tiny I couldn’t read it without my glasses.
· Yu Yin has tiny handwriting.
· The job interview proved to be much worse than I had imagined it would be.
· New technologies have only had a small impact on the overall level of employment.
· An apparently minor incident sparked off rioting.
· Rent takes a large chunk of their small income.
· Doctors have reported a slight increase in the number of deaths caused by the disease.· The temperature increase was quite small.
· The bird’s natural diet mainly consists of small insects.
· It’s a small island, barely twenty miles long.
· He let out a nervous little laugh.
· Their small majority made them worried about winning the next election.
· Visitors from other parts of Scotland exceeded foreign visitors by only a small margin.
· The party won by a huge margin.
· He lost by only a narrow margin.
(=a matter that is not important)· Walking out over such a small matter may seem ridiculous.
· She is one of a small minority of women working in engineering.
(=something lucky but not very important)· I’d managed to produce a good meal in half an hour, which seemed like a minor miracle.
(=very early, before dawn)· I was woken up in the small hours of the morning by a strange sound.
· He had a big nose and a big mouth.· Billy’s wide mouth stretched into a grin.
· She made a restless little movement.
She kept weighing herself to see how much heavier she was getting.· She had high cheekbones and a small nose.
· The class had only a small number of students.
For a relatively small outlay, you can start a home hairdressing business.· Toby had a small part in the film.
· I don’t really like going to big parties.
· Some of the hills still had small patches of snow.
· Only a small percentage of people suffer from the allergy.
· A small portion of western Croatia remained under Habsburg control.
· One way of losing weight is to eat smaller portions.
(=something is worth suffering in order to achieve something more important)· Changing his job would be a small price to pay to keep his marriage intact.
· Old cars often develop minor engine problems.
· The business managed to produce a small profit last year.
· Remove a small quantity of butter from the fridge.
· There was a small queue of people waiting to see the doctor.
· He has had small roles in several other films.
Mutual funds have been attractive to small savers (=people who save small amounts of money).· They started by producing and selling on a small scale.
· She could see the small scar on his right cheek.
· We also have a small selection of offices for daily hire.
· There has been only a slight shift in income distribution.
· Quinn let out a little sigh and closed the book.
· One problem was the very small size of the department.
· She politely accepted a small slice of pie.
Always read the small print before you sign anything. We stood around making small talk.· There was only a small space between the car and the wall.
· This is a small step in the right direction.
· Each year the inhabitants had to pay a small sum for the use of the pasture.
· There is a limited supply of land for building.
· I grew up in a small town in Iowa.· The nearest big town is 20 miles away.
a small trader who sells hats in Oxford· They come from a small village in Laos.
· He had just started learning English and his vocabulary was fairly limited.
(=quiet and not strong or confident)· She answered in a small voice, ‘I think I was afraid.’
(=with not many guests)· We had a quiet wedding, with just a few close friends and relatives.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► smallsPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► a big fish in a little/small pond► don’t sweat the small stuff► (it’s) no/small/little wonder (that)
1the small of your back the lower part of your back where it curves2smalls [plural] British English old-fashioned informal underwear- A hot water bottle in the small of your back should help.
- As the skaters skated, they sometimes tucked one arm into the small of their backs.
- But then he was sandwiched between the door and the floor level, concrete lip digging into the small of his back.
- Her white sweatshirt is bunched up and tucked in at the small of her back, so her rear is exposed.
- I could see the great livid weals of scars running across the small of her back and down her mighty thighs.
- I stroke the small of his back.
- She moved her hand to the small of his back and propelled him across the porch.
- When he stepped forward to use the other hand, something cracked into the small of his back, and he stumbled.
- Beggars were asking for small change.
- The program costs $20 million a year, small change in Washington.
- All this is very small change but very typical of our brother.
- Even back then forty-five cents was small change.
- For each member of the group, a small change of habit was the first step to an identity of its own.
- However, it does result in small changes in the tabulated values of the molar entropies of gases.
- Investors holding ninety-day Treasury bills experience very small changes in the value of those bills as interest rates fluctuate.
- Such small changes are invaluable in giving themes renewed vitality, while at the same time preserving unity.
- Try some of these steps: Make some small changes first.
- Very small changes make the biggest difference.
- The business won't go bankrupt, but that's cold comfort to the 15 people who lost their jobs.
- But this opposition misleads; charisma is cold comfort without expert management.
- Erratic hot winds kept the air thick with dust, and the fan gave small comfort to the feverish, aching children.
- Now, even these small comforts must be questioned.
- Perhaps it was ready? Small comfort, through ten guilt-ridden days.
- Precedent, however, suggests that his comments will offer only cold comfort to Mr Jiang and Mr Li.
- Rosy statistics on aggregate food production offer small comfort to nations that can not afford a seat at the banquet.
- The survival of slimmed-down companies is small comfort for people made redundant.
- They could explore the area, learn its resources and contrive small comforts in their rooms.
- But first there's the small matter of a semi-final clash that has split the household down the middle.
- His manifesto, of course, concerns the small matter of his life.
- On a good day, the building would be almost entirely rented-apart from the small matter of signing the contract.
- Then there was the small matter of my physical fitness.
- There's also the little matter of thirty-three shroud lines loops!
- There remains, as ever, the little matter of finance.
- This operation was tricky because there was the little matter of taking off my trousers and putting on my shorts.
- What about the small matter of the rest of the season?
- But trading standards officers and the Consumers' Association are warning customers to scrutinise the small print.
- He starts to read one, clearly hoping to find the answer in the small print.
- His agent was sorting out the fine print.
- It is the broker's job to make sure the haulier fully understands the small print of the exemption and other clauses.
- It ought to be the fine print, not the screaming headline.
- New formulae claim anything from 15 to 24 hours' efficacy, so check the small print on the pack!
- You submit your offer on Form 656, but read the fine print on the back.
- Also on the small side is the 14-gallon fuel tank.
- Both versions have the same size fuel tank, which, at 14. 5 gallons, is on the small side.
- Burned by that experience, chip forecasters prepared their 1996 forecasts on the high side.
- For political reasons, these estimates are on the high side.
- The bedrooms, though on the small side, have recently been completed refurbished in sophisticated style.
- The clams and mussels-four of each-are on the small side, but flavorful.
- The little one's a bit on the small side.
- The only complaint we had with the shoe was the weight - it's on the heavy side.
- I had seen the movie before, but it didn't look as good on the small screen.
- It's one of the best shows ever seen on the small screen.
- The story of Hearst's life made it to the small screen last spring.
- The crows meanwhile have taken on another persona of small-time crooks.
- But even if this conclusion is not justified, we can say that infallible beliefs must have vanishingly small content.
- For just the same reason, it is vanishingly improbable that exactly the same evolutionary pathway should ever be travelled twice.
- If the object is very distant, linear magnification becomes vanishingly small.
- It would need a gigantic and vanishingly improbable leap across genetic hyperspace.
- On average, the chances of weediness emerging by accident are vanishingly small.
- Statistically, however, the chance of avoiding synonyms altogether is vanishingly small.
- Way back, something went bad in a big way.
- Actors are getting paid more than their worth all over Hollywood right now, and in a big way.
- But his baseball career has been resurrected in a big way this season.
- But I think we blew it in a big way.
- Colorado has taken to the sport in a big way.
- His ambulance service has taken off in a big way.
- I began to prepare in a small way to enjoy the Christmas in Bedford.
- This is something he has carried in a big way into his later professional life.
- The recording session extended into the wee hours.
- An ideal adventure for beginners, this one should have you plugging away till the wee small hours of the morning.
- For safety, a night light comes on at the top of the stairs when some one emerges in the wee hours.
- Soul musicians are, by nature, nocturnal, so many of his interviews would take place in the wee hours.
- Their video-age medicine shows run on dozens of cable and broadcast outlets in the wee hours.
- We got to Sabinal in the wee hours before dawn.
- Where else can such a thought be debated ad nauseam into the wee hours of a boring Tuesday?