- small in size, amount, or degree (often used to convey an appealing diminutiveness or express an affectionate or condescending attitude)［常用于表示小巧玲珑的含意, 或用于暗示亲热或略带优越感的态度］（尺寸）小（巧）的; （数量）少的; （程度）低的：
the plants will grow into little bushes
这些植物会长成小巧的灌木
a little puppy dog
一只可爱的小狗仔
a boring little man
烦人的小个子男人
he's a good little worker.
他是个不错的小工人。
- (of a person) young or younger（人）小的, 年幼的：
my little brother
我的小弟弟
when she was little she was always getting into scrapes.
她小时候老是闯祸。
- attrib. denoting something, especially a place, that is the smaller or smallest of those so named or is named after a similar larger one小…（同名地方里较小或最小的）：
the village of Little Chesterton.
小切斯特顿村。
- attrib. used in names of animals and plants that are smaller than related kinds, e.g. little grebe.小…（同名动植物里较小的品种, 如 little grebe）。
- attrib. of short distance or duration（距离, 时间）短的, 稍微有一点儿的：
stay for a little while
稍待一会儿
we climbed up a little way.
我们稍微向上爬了一段距离。
- attrib. relatively unimportant; trivial (often used ironically)不重要的; 琐碎的（常含有反讽意味）：
we have a little problem
我们有点儿小问题
I can't remember every little detail.
我记不住所有的细节。
a little
a small amount of少量的：as determiner we got a little help from a training scheme我们从一个培训项目里得到了一点儿帮助
as pronoun you only see a little of what he can do.他所能做的你只看到了一点儿。
- pronoun a short time or distance一会儿; 一小段距离：
after a little, the rain stopped.
过了一小会儿, 雨停了。
- (used to emphasize) how small an amount is［用以强调量少］微乎其微：
as determiner I have little doubt of their identity我对他们的身份几乎丝毫没有怀疑
there was very little time to be lost
没什么时间了
as pronoun he ate and drank very little他吃得喝得都很少
the rouble is worth so little these days.
这阵子卢布真是太不值钱了。
less, least
a little
to a small extent有点儿：he reminded me a little of my parents
他有点儿让我想起了我父母
I was always a little afraid of her.
我一直有点儿怕她。
- (used for emphasis) only to a small extent; not much or often［用以强调］仅在小范围内（或很小程度上）; 不那么…：
he was little known in this country
他在这个国家没什么名气
he had slept little these past weeks.
过去的几周他睡得很少。
- hardly or not at all（几乎）没有：
little did he know what wheels he was putting into motion.
他哪里知道他正在启动的进程有何等重要。
in little
- archaic on a small scale; in miniature〈古〉小规模的; 小型的; 微型的。
little by little
- by degrees; gradually一点一点地, 逐渐地：
little by little the money dried up.
钱一点一点地花光了。
little or nothing
- hardly anything几乎没有。
make little of
- treat as unimportant没当回事：
they made little of their royal connection.
他们没把与王室的关系当回事儿。
no little
- considerable不小, 很大：
a factor of no little importance.
很重要的因素。
not a little
- a great deal (of); much不小, 很多：
not a little consternation was caused.
造成了不小的惊恐。
- very十分, 很：
it was not a little puzzling.
这很令人困惑。
quite a little
- a fairly large amount of很多, 大量：
some spoke quite a little English.
有些人大讲英语。
- a considerable大量, 不少：
it turned out to be quite a little bonanza.
实践证明那是个赚大钱的好机会。
quite the little -
- used when condescendingly or ironically recognizing that someone has a particular quality or accomplishment［用以表示不情愿地或讽刺地承认某人具备某种能力或取得了成就］的确, 真正：
you've become quite the little horsewoman.
你现在也可算是一名女骑师了。