small
A1Neutral (used in all registers from informal to formal).
Definition
Meaning
Of a size that is less than normal or usual; not large or big.
Can refer to limited degree, low intensity, minor importance, young age, or a modest scale.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often subjective; comparative and superlative forms (smaller, smallest) are common. Can modify both concrete and abstract nouns (e.g., small room, small chance). May imply insignificance or endearment depending on context.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, 'small' is frequently used in measurements (e.g., 'a small 250ml bottle') and specific terms like 'small advert' (classified ad). In American English, phrases like 'small potatoes' (insignificant) are common, while British English uses 'small beer' similarly.
Connotations
Generally similar, but in British English 'small' can sound slightly more formal in certain fixed expressions (e.g., 'small holding'). In American English, it is often associated with commercial sizes (e.g., small, medium, large).
Frequency
Equally high frequency in both dialects; no significant variation in overall use.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
small enough totoo small forsmall in sizesmall by comparisonsmall to the point ofVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “small fry”
- “small potatoes”
- “the small hours”
- “small talk”
- “it's a small world”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to scale, as in 'small enterprise', 'small profit margin', or 'small-scale investment'.
Academic
Used in quantitative descriptions, e.g., 'small sample size', 'small effect size', or 'small deviation'.
Everyday
Describes physical size, quantity, or degree, e.g., 'a small car', 'a small favour', 'small amount of sugar'.
Technical
Denotes specific categories or measurements, e.g., 'small intestine', 'small diameter pipe', 'small particle'.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The criticism smalled her confidence, making her hesitant.
American English
- The budget was smalled down to the bare essentials.
adverb
British English
- Write small to fit all the notes in the margin.
American English
- He thinks small, focusing on incremental improvements.
adjective
British English
- They rented a small cottage in the Lake District.
American English
- She drives a small pickup truck for her landscaping business.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The kitten is very small.
- We live in a small house.
- Can I have a small piece of cake?
- The small village was surrounded by mountains.
- He made a small error in the report.
- She runs a small online business.
- The study had a small but representative sample.
- A small change in temperature can affect the experiment.
- Their contribution was small yet crucial.
- The contract's small print contained several onerous clauses.
- Despite its small stature, the device packs impressive computational power.
- Her small acts of kindness had a cumulative impact on the community.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the word 'small' fitting inside a tiny 'ball'—both end with 'all' but one is much smaller.
Conceptual Metaphor
IMPORTANCE IS SIZE (e.g., 'small problem', 'small matter'); TIME IS SPACE (e.g., 'in the small hours of the morning').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid using 'small' for age (like 'маленький ребёнок'); use 'young' or 'little' instead. Note that 'small' primarily describes physical size, while 'little' can convey size, age, or endearment.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'small' with uncountable nouns without a unit (e.g., 'small water' instead of 'a small amount of water'). Confusing 'small' and 'little' in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'small sister' vs 'little sister').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT a standard idiom with 'small'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not always. 'Small' typically refers to physical size objectively, while 'little' can imply endearment, youth, or a subjective sense of smallness (e.g., 'a little girl' vs 'a small girl'). 'Little' is also more common in idiomatic expressions (e.g., 'little by little').
Yes, it often modifies abstract nouns to indicate limited degree or importance, e.g., 'small chance', 'small problem', 'small progress'.
'Tiny' is more emphatic than 'small', meaning extremely small. 'Small' is neutral and relative, while 'tiny' suggests something is notably minute.
The standard forms are 'smaller' (comparative) and 'smallest' (superlative). They follow regular adjective rules (e.g., 'This box is smaller than that one'; 'It's the smallest room in the house').
Collections
Part of a collection
Basic Adjectives
A1 · 46 words · Fundamental describing words used every day.