- a smaller amount of; not as much量更少; 量较少：
as determiner the less time spent there, the better在那儿花的时间越少越好
as pronoun storage is less of a problem than it used to be现在储存问题不像过去那样突出了
ready in less than an hour.
一个小时不到准备就绪。
- fewer in number数量较少（或更少）：
as determiner short hair presented less problems than long hair短发造成的问题比长发要少
as pronoun a population of less than 200,000.少于20万的人口。
- archaic of lower rank or importance〈古〉等级较低的; 次要的：
James the Less.
小詹姆士。
- to a smaller extent; not so much（范围）较小的, 较少的：
he listened less to the answer than to Kate's voice
他更多是在听凯特的声音而不是听她的回答
that this is a positive stereotype makes it no less a stereotype.
虽然这一陈规有积极的一面, 但总还只是个陈规而已。
less than
far from; certainly not远不是, 根本不：Mitch looked less than happy
米切尔看上去一点儿也不快乐
the data was less than ideal.
数据实在是太不理想了。
- before subtracting (something); minus减去…之前, 除去：
£900,000 less tax.
不算税款计90万英镑, 税前90万英镑。
in less than no time
- informal very quickly or soon〈非正式〉很快, 马上, 立即。
less and less
- at a continually decreasing rate越来越少。
much（或 still）less
- used to introduce something as being even less likely or suitable than something else already mentioned［表示比刚刚说过的事更不可能或更不适合］更不要说：
what woman would consider a date with him, much less a marriage?
什么样的女人愿意跟他约会, 更不要说嫁给他了？
no less
- used to suggest, often ironically, that something is surprising or impressive［用于表示某事令人惊讶或给人留下深刻印象, 常有讽刺意味］竟, 居然：
Peter cooked dinner - fillet steak and champagne, no less.
彼得做了饭——居然还有里脊扒和香槟酒。
no less than
used to emphasize a surprisingly large amount［强调数目大得惊人］不少于。