Pronunciations
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/lɛs/
Adverb
Used for constructing syntactic diminutive comparatives of adjectives and adverbs.
Usage- comparative
- diminutive
- Examples
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Randal is less welcome than Rachel but as her spouse we should invite them both.
This gadget is less useful than I expected.
More examples (5)
I'm not any less happy for being on my own.
Demanding? I've never known a less demanding patient!
This section of space is much less empty than that between the stars, […]
That brief moment after the election four years ago, when many Americans thought Mr. Obama’s election would presage a new, less fractious political era, now seems very much a thing of the past.
In plants, the ability to recognize self from nonself plays an important role in fertilization, because self-fertilization will result in less diverse offspring than fertilization with pollen from another individual.
To a smaller extent or degree.
Usage- comparative
- diminutive
- Examples
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The grammar book was less than (that is, not at all) helpful.
That this is a positive one makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
Determiner
A smaller amount of; not as much.
- Examples
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No less than eight pints of beer.
I have less tea than coffee.
More examples (2)
You have even less sense than an inanimate object.
Earless ghost swift moths become “invisible” to echolocating bats by forming mating clusters close (less than half a meter) above vegetation and effectively blending into the clutter of echoes that the bat receives from the leaves and stems around them.
Fewer; a smaller number of.
Usage- proscribed
- Examples
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There are less people here now.
Now there are three less green bottles hanging on the wall.
More examples (6)
The express checkout lane is for those with ten items or less.
I thinke there are few Vniuersities that haue lesse faultes than Oxford, many that haue more.
... on his land he will have less manure, less corn, and less people; ...
This is not a happy situation as far as the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employes is concerned because it means less jobs for the union's members here at home.
No less than four standard-bearers went before them, carrying huge crimson banners emblazoned with the golden lion.
Although my hosts, G S Aviation, can teach you to fly in Wiltshire, an intensive week at their French airfield means less problems with the weather, cheap but good living, and complete removal from any distractions.
Preposition
Minus; not including
- Examples
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It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.
Total: $500, less $50 expenses.
More examples (1)
I earned $45,000 last year, less tax and insurance.
Verb
To make less; to lessen.
Usage- Archaic
- Examples
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1386-90, Gower, Confessio Amantis What he will make lesse, he lesseth.
More examples (2)
c. 1650, Patrick Gordon of Ruthven, A short Abridgement of Britane's Distemper, from the yeares of God 1639 to 1649, printed 1844 for the Spalding Club Som of the wiser sort, divining upon this vission, attrebute to the pen-knyves the lenth of tym before this should com to pass, and it hath been observed by sindrie that the earles of that hous befor wer the richest in the kingdom, having treasure and store besyde them, but ever since the addittion of this so great a revenue, they have lessed the stock by heavie burdens of debt and ingagment.
The protracted term of life, and the lingering illness through which this gentleman had passed, had neither impaired the original vigour of his mind, nor lessed the uncommon warmth of his affections.
Soon as I lessed the tree of this, it waned — Less cause, gave less effect
More examples (1)
The scattered beauties thro' the air, Have lessed the woe, the dread, the care;
Adjective
Lesser; smaller.
Usage- Archaic
- not-comparable
- Examples
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Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world.
This he said, thinking that Alan would be pleased; but the Highlandman’s vanity was ready to startle at a less matter than that.
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Hig speed is another cause of bullheads and cracks, because of the greater shock of contact than is the case where the speed is less.
Noun
A smaller amount or quantity.
Usage- Uncountable
- Examples
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Less is better.
I have less to do today than yesterday.
More examples (1)
Last month less of my salary was taken up with household expenses.
Conjunction
unless
Usage- dialectal
- nonstandard
- Examples
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To tell you true, 'tis too good for you, 'less you had grace to follow it
Adjective
(comparative of ‘little’ usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
- Antonyms
- Examples
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of less importance
less time to spend with the family
More examples (2)
a shower uses less water
less than three years old
(usually preceded by ‘no’) lower in quality
- Examples
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no less than perfect
(nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
- Examples
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less than three weeks
no less than 50 people attended
More examples (1)
in 25 words or less
Adverb
used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs, indicates that the adjective or adverb is less of something
- Synonyms
- Antonyms
- Examples
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less interesting
less expensive
More examples (1)
less quickly
comparative of little
- Antonyms
- Examples
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she walks less than she should
he works less these days