little entrance: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low (C1-C2 level, specialized usage)Formal, Literary, Technical (liturgical architecture)
Quick answer
What does “little entrance” mean?
A small or modest door or way into a place.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A small or modest door or way into a place.
An unobtrusive or secondary entry point; an understated beginning or introduction to something; in some religious contexts, a specific liturgical processional entry.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning. Architectural or liturgical usage is identical. The metaphorical usage is slightly more common in British literary contexts.
Connotations
Both: suggests modesty, discretion, or unimportance. British: may carry a slightly more quaint or architectural nuance. American: more straightforwardly literal.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, primarily found in descriptive prose or specialized texts.
Grammar
How to Use “little entrance” in a Sentence
[subject] found a little entrance to [location]There is a little entrance [prepositional phrase]through the little entranceVocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly used metaphorically: 'The company made a little entrance into the Asian market.'
Academic
Used in architectural history, liturgical studies, or descriptive literary analysis.
Everyday
Mostly literal, describing a physical door: 'We went in through the little entrance at the side.'
Technical
Specific term in Eastern Orthodox liturgy for the Lesser Entrance, the procession with the Gospel book.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “little entrance”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “little entrance”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “little entrance”
- Using 'small entrance' in a liturgical context where 'Lesser Entrance' is the proper term.
- Confusing 'little' (size/importance) with 'less' (quantity).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it can be used metaphorically to describe a humble or inconspicuous beginning or introduction to a field, group, or situation.
'Side entrance' specifies location. 'Little entrance' specifies size and/or modesty; it may or may not be at the side.
Yes, for literal descriptions, 'small entrance' is a common synonym. 'Little' can sound slightly more literary or descriptive of character (modest, humble).
Yes, but descriptively, not as a standard technical classification. It might be used in guidebooks or descriptive texts.
A small or modest door or way into a place.
Little entrance is usually formal, literary, technical (liturgical architecture) in register.
Little entrance: in British English it is pronounced /ˌlɪt(ə)l ˈɛntrəns/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌlɪt(ə)l ˈɛntrəns/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Make a little entrance (to enter quietly/unnoticed)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a Hobbit hole: a round, little entrance that leads to a vast space inside.
Conceptual Metaphor
BEGINNINGS ARE ENTRANCES (A humble beginning is a little entrance).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'Little Entrance' a formal, technical term?