| 释义 |
determiner adverb preposition 🔑 lessBrE /les/NAmE /les/ determiner, pronounused with uncountable nouns to mean 'a smaller amount of' （与不可数名词连用）较少的，更少的◆less butter/time/importance 较少的黄油/时间；次要◆He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer. 有人劝他少抽烟、少喝啤酒。◆We have less to worry about now. 现在我们要担忧的事少一些了。◆It is less of a problem than I'd expected. 问题不像我预料的那么大。◆We'll be there in less than no time (= very soon). 我们马上就到。◆The victory was nothing less than a miracle. 这场胜利是个不折不扣的奇迹。 HELP People often use less with countable nouns. * less 与可数名词连用颇常见◆There were less cars on the road then. 那时候路上车流量较少。This is not considered correct by some people, and fewer should be used instead. 有人认为这不正确，应用 fewer。  ●ˌless and ˈless 🔑smaller and smaller amounts 越来越少◆As time passed, she saw less and less of all her old friends at home. 随着时间的消逝，她越来越见不到家乡那些老朋友了。●ˌless is ˈmore(saying) include only what is essential in order to create an effective product or result 少即是多；以少见多；简单就是美◆His simple, elegant paintings reflect his principle that less is more. 他简洁典雅的绘画体现出他简约就是美的原则。●no ˈless(often ironic) used to suggest that sth is surprising or impressive （表示惊讶或钦佩）竟，居然◆She's having lunch with the Director, no less. 她居然正在与主管一起进午餐。●no less than…used to emphasize a large amount （强调大数量）不少于，多达◆The guide contains details of no less than 115 hiking routes. 这本旅游指南包括多达 115 条徒步旅行路线的详细介绍。 🔑 lessBrE /les/NAmE /les/ adverbto a smaller degree; not so much 较少；较小；更少；更小；没那么多；少◆less expensive/likely/intelligent 价钱较便宜；可能性较小；智力较差◆less often/enthusiastically 不那么经常/热情◆I read much less now than I used to. 我现在看的书比过去少得多。◆The receptionist was less than (= not at all) helpful. 那接待员一点忙都不愿帮。◆She wasn't any the less happy for (= she was perfectly happy) being on her own. 她并不因独自一人而有一丁点儿不快活。◆That this is a positive stereotype makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable. 这种成见即使是积极的也依然是成见，因而是不可取的。●even/much/still ˈlessand certainly not 更不用说；更何况◆No explanation was offered, still less an apology. 连个解释都不给，就更不用说道歉了。●ˌless and ˈless 🔑continuing to become smaller in amount 越来越少；越来越小◆She found the job less and less attractive. 她发觉那工作越来越没意思。●ˌmore or ˈless🔑 almost 几乎；差不多◆I've more or less finished the book. 我差不多已经读完这本书了。🔑 approximately 大概；大约◆She could earn $200 a night, more or less. 她一晚上大约能挣 200 美元。 🔑 lessBrE /les/NAmE /les/ prepositionused before a particular amount that must be taken away from the amount just mentioned 减去；扣除 SYN minus ◆a monthly salary of $2 000 less tax and insurance 月薪 2 000 美元，从中扣除税款和保险费 |