less

determiner, pronoun

OPAL WOPAL S

/les/

Idioms

jump to other results

used with uncountable nouns to mean ‘a smaller amount of’
- less something less butter/time/importance
- He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer.
- less to do We have less to worry about now.
- less of something They say we should exercise and eat less of some kinds of fat.
- less than… We'll be there in less than no time (= very soon).
- The victory was nothing less than a miracle.
- less of something than… It is less of a problem than I'd expected.
People often use less with countable nouns There were less cars on the road then. This is not considered correct in standard English, and fewer should be used instead.
Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’.

Idioms

less and less

smaller and smaller amounts; at a rate that is decreasing
- As time passed, she saw less and less of all her old friends at home.
- There used to be TV shows that everyone would watch at the same time and talk about the next day, but that happens less and less.

less is more

(saying) including only what is essential can create a more effective product or result
- His simple, elegant paintings reflect his principle that less is more.

no less

(often ironic) used to suggest that something is surprising or impressive
- She's having lunch with the Director, no less.

no less than…

used to emphasize a large amount
- The guide contains details of no less than 115 hiking routes.

less

adverb

OPAL WOPAL S

/les/

Idioms

jump to other results

to a smaller degree; not so much
- less expensive/likely/intelligent
- less often/enthusiastically
- less than… I read much less now than I used to.
- The receptionist was less than (= not at all) helpful.
- She wasn't any the less happy for (= she was perfectly happy) being on her own.
- That this is a positive stereotype makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
Less is used with these adjectives:
able
evident
inclined
…
See full entry
Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’.

Idioms

less and less

continuing to become smaller in amount
- She found the job less and less attractive.

more or less

almost
- I've more or less finished the book.
approximately
- She could earn $200 a night, more or less.

much/still less

and certainly not
- No explanation was offered, still less an apology.
- He’s too shy to ask a stranger the time, much less speak to a room full of people.

less

preposition

/les/

jump to other results

used before a particular amount that must be taken away from the amount just mentioned synonym minus
- a monthly salary of $2 000 less tax and insurance
- Send a cheque for the catalogue price, less 10% discount.
Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’.

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单词	less
释义	less determiner, pronoun OPAL WOPAL S /les/ /les/ Idioms jump to other results used with uncountable nouns to mean ‘a smaller amount of’ less something less butter/time/importance He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer. less to do We have less to worry about now. less of something They say we should exercise and eat less of some kinds of fat. less than… We'll be there in less than no time (= very soon). The victory was nothing less than a miracle. less of something than… It is less of a problem than I'd expected. People often use less with countable nouns There were less cars on the road then. This is not considered correct in standard English, and fewer should be used instead. Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’. Idioms less and less smaller and smaller amounts; at a rate that is decreasing As time passed, she saw less and less of all her old friends at home. There used to be TV shows that everyone would watch at the same time and talk about the next day, but that happens less and less. less is more (saying) including only what is essential can create a more effective product or result His simple, elegant paintings reflect his principle that less is more. no less (often ironic) used to suggest that something is surprising or impressive She's having lunch with the Director, no less. no less than… used to emphasize a large amount The guide contains details of no less than 115 hiking routes. less adverb OPAL WOPAL S /les/ /les/ Idioms jump to other results to a smaller degree; not so much less expensive/likely/intelligent less often/enthusiastically less than… I read much less now than I used to. The receptionist was less than (= not at all) helpful. She wasn't any the less happy for (= she was perfectly happy) being on her own. That this is a positive stereotype makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable. Oxford Collocations DictionaryLess is used with these adjectives: able evident inclined … See full entry Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’. Idioms less and less continuing to become smaller in amount She found the job less and less attractive. more or less almost I've more or less finished the book. approximately She could earn $200 a night, more or less. much/still less and certainly not No explanation was offered, still less an apology. He’s too shy to ask a stranger the time, much less speak to a room full of people. less preposition /les/ /les/ jump to other results used before a particular amount that must be taken away from the amount just mentioned synonym minus a monthly salary of $2 000 less tax and insurance Send a cheque for the catalogue price, less 10% discount. Word OriginOld English lǣssa, of Germanic origin; related to Old Frisian lēssa, from an Indo-European root shared by Greek loisthos ‘last’.
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