1 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ adjective less /ˈlɛs/ or lesser /ˈlɛsɚ/ also littler /ˈlɪtl̟ɚ/ ; least /ˈliːst/ also littlest /ˈlɪtl̟əst/ less /ˈlɛs/ or lesser /ˈlɛsɚ/ also littler /ˈlɪtl̟ɚ/ ; least /ˈliːst/ also littlest /ˈlɪtl̟əst/ Learner's definition of LITTLE
1
a : small in size（尺寸）小的 -
She has little feet.她脚很小。
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a little island/airplane小岛；小型飞机
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a little business小企业
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Our school is little.我们的学校不大。
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a tiny little fish袖珍鱼
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This room is littler [=(more commonly) smaller] than that one.这间屋子比那间还小。
b : not tall : short（个子）矮的 c : small in amount（数量）少的 -
I have very little money, so I can't lend you any.我没什么钱了，所以不能借给你。
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I have less money than I did before.我的钱比以前少了。
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I got very little sleep last night.我昨晚几乎没睡什么觉。
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There's little hope of a rescue now.现在救援的希望很渺茫了。
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You have little choice but to pay attention.你没什么选择，只能多加注意。
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The new version bears little resemblance to the original.新版和原版没什么相似之处。
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These programs have very/precious little chance of succeeding.这些方案成功的概率极低。
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The help he offered us was too little, too late. [=it was not as much help as we needed and it was offered too late to be helpful]他给我们的帮助太有限也太迟了。
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There has been little if any improvement. [=there has been almost no improvement]几乎没什么改进。
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These trinkets have little or no value.这些小饰品几乎没什么价值。
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There was no little sadness in his voice. [=there was a lot of sadness in his voice]他的声音中充满着悲伤。
d : not having many things or people included（人或事物）少量的 -
We're having a little party this weekend.我们本周末要小聚一下。
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a little group of people一小群人
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a little village小村庄
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her little hometown她那不大的家乡
2
: young or younger年纪轻的；年纪小的 -
I loved swimming when I was little.我小时候喜欢游泳。
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a little boy/girl小男孩/女孩
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He's very proud of his little boy/girl. [=of his young son/daughter]他为自己幼小的儿子/女儿而自豪。
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How's your little one? [=your young(est) son or daughter]你的小不点儿好吗？
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my little brother/sister [=my brother/sister who is younger than I am]我的弟弟/妹妹
3
always used before a noun : not lasting for a long time短暂的 -
I have to take a little break.我得稍微休息一下。
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We sat down for a little chat.我们坐下聊了一会儿。
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We talked for a little while.我们谈了一会儿。
4
always used before a noun : not very important不太重要的 —
sometimes used in an ironic way to describe something important有时用作讽刺之意，形容某事很重要 5
always used before a noun : not easily seen, heard, etc.不易察觉的 -
He gave her a little smile.他朝她微微笑了一下。
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She made a little wave with her hand.她的手微微摆了一下。
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She spoke in a quiet little voice.她喃喃低语。
6 always used before a noun
a —
used to refer to someone or something in an approving or friendly way（用于赞同或友好地指称某人或某物）可爱的，可怜的 -
That's a nice little car you've got there.你拥有的是一辆漂亮的小车。
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You poor little thing.你这可怜的东西。
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Bless your little heart.保佑你幼小的心灵。
b —
used to refer to someone or something in a disapproving or critical way（用于厌恶或批评地指称某人或某物）讨厌的，可恶的 -
He's a little jerk.他就是个傻蛋。
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It was a mean little joke.那是个低俗肮脏的笑话。
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She has a dirty little secret.她有个肮脏卑鄙的秘密。
7
always used before a noun : not open to new ideas狭隘的 — littleness
/ˈlɪtl̟nəs/ noun [noncount] 2 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ adverb
less; least
less; least
Learner's definition of LITTLE
1
a : in a very small amount or degree极少；轻微 b : hardly at all : not very much几乎不 -
We had little more than we needed.我们仅够基本所需。
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She cared little (about) what he thought.她极少关心他的想法。
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His art is little known in this country.他的艺术作品在这个国家鲜为人知。
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a little-known fact几乎不为人知的事实
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She little knew what fate had in store for her. = Little did she know what fate had in store for her.她不知道等待她的是什么命运。
little by little
: by small steps or amounts : gradually逐步地 -
Little by little, he got better.他逐渐好转了。
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The protest gathered strength little by little.抗议的力量逐渐增强。
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I got to know them little by little.我逐步了解了他们。
little more than
or little better than
: not much more or better than (something) : only slightly more or better than (something)仅仅；只不过 3 little /ˈlɪtl̟/ pronoun
3 little
/ˈlɪtl̟/
pronoun
Learner's definition of LITTLE
: a small amount or quantity少许 -
There is little we can do to help.我们能帮的不多。
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Little is known about her life.她的生活鲜为人知。
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They say precious little [=they do not say much] about their job.他们几乎不谈自己的工作。
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They understand little of what is going on.他们不太明白是怎么回事。
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His argument did little to change their minds. [=his argument did not change their minds]他的争辩没怎么改变他们的想法。
a little
1
: not much but some一点；一些 -
I don't want much: I want just a little bit/piece.我不想多要，只要一点点/一小块。
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There's a little brown sugar in these cookies.这些饼干里放有少许红糖。
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I have a little money, so I may be able to lend you some.我有点钱，所以可以借给你一些。
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They offered him a little something to drink before dinner. [=they offered him something to drink]他们晚饭前给他上了点饮料。
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There was more than a little sadness [=there was much sadness] in his voice.他的声音中充满着悲伤。
2
: not much but somewhat or slightly有点儿 -
It bothered me a little.这让我有点烦恼。
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His house is down the street a little further.这条街往里走一点就是他家。
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His house is down the street a little. = It's a little down the street.他家就在这条街往里一点。
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I'm feeling a little better today.今天我感觉好点了。
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Repairs will begin in a little [=slightly] more than a month.修复工作将在一个月多一点后开始。
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He was not a little annoyed [=he was very annoyed] at the interruption.他很烦被人打断。
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Her vision of the future was more than a little upsetting. [=was very upsetting]她对未来的设想使人感到很不安。
3
: for a brief time一阵子；一会儿 4
: a small amount or quantity少量 -
There is only a very little at stake here.这只有一点点风险。
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They don't understand much but they do understand a little.他们懂得不多，但确实懂一点儿。
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There's still some money in the bank, but only a very little.银行里还有些钱，但是不多。
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They understand more than a little of what is going on. [=they understand much of what is going on]他们非常明白事态的进展。
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Don't use too much of this. A little goes a long way. [=a small amount will be enough]别用太多，用一点就够了。
a little bit
2
chiefly US : a short time一会儿 3
: a small amount of something少量 -
The buffet had a little bit of everything.餐柜里什么东西都有点。
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We have a little bit of time left.我们的时间所剩无几。
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Oh, I'll have just a little bit, thanks.哦，我只要一点儿，谢谢。
as little as
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used to suggest that a number or quantity is surprisingly small区区；仅仅