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BNC: 379 COCA: 477

less

1 less /ˈlɛs/ adjective
1 less
/ˈlɛs/
adjective
Learner's definition of LESS
comparative form of 1little
: not so much : smaller in amount or number较小的;更少的

no less

used to suggest that something is surprising or impressive(用于表示某事物令人惊讶或印象深刻)竟,居然

no less than

: at least至少used to suggest that a number or amount is surprisingly large用于强调数量惊人
Usage用法 The adjectives less and fewer have similar meanings but are used in slightly different ways.形容词less和fewer意思相近但用法稍有区别。Fewer is used with nouns that can be counted.*fewer用于修饰可数名词。
Less is usually used with nouns that cannot be counted.*less通常用于修饰不可数名词。
But less is also more likely than fewer to be used with count nouns that refer to distances and amounts of money.但修饰指距离和金额的可数名词时,less比fewer更常用。
Less is also used in mathematical expressions and in certain phrases.*less也用于数学表达式和某些短语。
It is also used instead of fewer with other sorts of plural nouns, although many people still consider this use incorrect.*less也用于代替fewer修饰其他复数名词,不过很多人仍然认为这种用法不正确。
2 less /ˈlɛs/ adverb
2 less
/ˈlɛs/
adverb
Learner's definition of LESS
comparative form of 2little
: not so much : to a smaller extent or degree更小地;更少地;程度较低地

in less than no time

informal
: very soon很快;一眨眼的工夫

less and less

: in a way that is gradually smaller, weaker, or less common越来越少;越来越弱;越来越罕见

less than

: not completely or not at all不完全;完全不

more or less

see 2more

much less

or chiefly British still less
used after a negative statement to say that something is even less likely or possible than the thing previously mentioned更别提,更不用说(用在否定句后,表示此事的可能性比前者更小)
3 less /ˈlɛs/ pronoun
3 less
/ˈlɛs/
pronoun
Learner's definition of LESS
: a smaller number or amount更少;更小
: something that is smaller or less important than another thing更小(或更无关紧要)的事物

could/couldn't care less

see 2care

less and less

: an amount that becomes gradually smaller越来越少

nothing less than

see 2nothing

think less of

see 1think
4 less /ˈlɛs/ preposition
4 less
/ˈlɛs/
preposition
Learner's definition of LESS
: after taking away or subtracting (something)减去;扣除
BNC: 379 COCA: 477

less

1 of 5

adjective

comparative of little entry 1

1
: constituting a more limited number or amount
less than three
less than half done
2
: of lower rank, degree, or importance
no less a person than the president himself
3
a
: of reduced size, extent, or degree
b
: more limited in quantity
in less time
Less vs. Fewer: Usage Guide

The traditional view is that less applies to matters of degree, value, or amount and modifies collective nouns, mass nouns, or nouns denoting an abstract whole while fewer applies to matters of number and modifies plural nouns. Less has been used to modify plural nouns since the days of King Alfred and the usage, though roundly decried, appears to be increasing. Less is more likely than fewer to modify plural nouns when distances, sums of money, and a few fixed phrases are involved

less than 100 miles
an investment of less than $2000
in 25 words or less

and as likely as fewer to modify periods of time.

in less (or fewer) than four hours

less

2 of 5

adverb

comparative of little entry 2

: to a lesser extent or degree

less

3 of 5

noun

plural less
1
: a smaller portion or quantity
2
: something of less importance

less

4 of 5

preposition

: diminished by : minus

-less

5 of 5

adjective suffix

1
: destitute of : not having
witless
childless
2
: unable to be acted on or to act (in a specified way)
dauntless
fadeless
Phrases
no less
used to emphasize that something is regarded as impressive or surprising
wants to be driven to the airport, in a limousine no less
less and less
: to a progressively smaller size or extent
less than
: by no means : not at all
less than honest in his replies

Example Sentences

Adjective We need less talk and more work! She finished in less time than I did. Less detail is sometimes better than more detail. 8 times 2 is less than 6 times 3. We made it there in less than six hours. The whole procedure takes less than five minutes. The illness affects less than one percent of the population. Adverb This test seemed much less difficult than the last one. Which test is the less difficult of the two? Do you have another one that's less expensive? She visits much less often than she used to. They're focusing more on quality and less on quantity. Their band is less concerned with making music than with making money. Preposition We earned two hundred dollars, less travel expenses. Adjective suffix my first painless day since leaving the hospital See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The Ethereum merge provided less of a sustained boost to Ether, which immediately after the merge jumped to $1,641, but has since dropped 11.7%, trading at $1,448 on Friday afternoon, according to CoinMarketCap. Marco Quiroz-gutierrez, Fortune, 16 Sep. 2022 That means higher bond yields, lower stock prices and less of a chance at a soft landing. Nicole Goodkind, CNN, 16 Sep. 2022 Available in five vibrant colors, this Snap N Strain strainer will make straining pasta and other foods less of a hassle. Ni'kesia Pannell, Woman's Day, 14 Sep. 2022 Commercial landlords who learned useful lessons about debt since then—except to carry less of it—face a slow reckoning. Carol Ryan, WSJ, 13 Sep. 2022 Ellen [Pompeo] is having less of a role in the show this year, and this felt like the right moment to come at it fresh with a bunch [of new characters]. Samantha Highfill, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Temperatures have fallen in the northern parts of the state, but the storm has had less of an impact there and wildfire conditions prevail, Sanchez said. Arkansas Online, 11 Sep. 2022 Chris Licht took over the network in May, pledging to restore its place in the center of the American cable news ecosystem—that is to say between MSNBC and Fox News—and make the network less of a lightning rod for criticism from the right. Alex Shephard, The New Republic, 7 Sep. 2022 Pompeo, who has been the lead on Grey's since its premiere in 2005, is going to be less of a staple during season 19. Kelly Wynne, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2022
Adverb
Although opting for a showroom presentation can be less costly than a runway show, presenting at NYFW can be a steep investment for designers regardless of their approach. Greg Emmanuel, Essence, 16 Sep. 2022 To date, the European Union’s five largest economies have announced support for households, and less costly help for businesses, totaling €203 billion, equivalent to around $202 billion. David Uberti, WSJ, 15 Sep. 2022 Research also shows that people are generally less sensitive to contractor casualties than military personnel dying. Christopher Michael Faulkner, The Conversation, 15 Sep. 2022 Massey specifically said adoption should be less costly. James Pollard, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2022 The next step is using the app to configure the power button, which also serves as a thumbprint reader—a setup that should make the bike somewhat less prone to theft, should anyone realize its function before trying to pedal off. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 8 Sep. 2022 There are signs that Marvel is entering into a less leak-prone approach. Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 Cubs director of hitting Justin Stone compared him offensively to Anthony Rizzo in an interview with the Tribune’s Meghan Montemurro, though Mervis is less prone to strikeouts than Rizzo, who was called up to the majors at 21. Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2022 Lam-Phaure attests to the product's use of alcohol denat, which also happens to make the formula less prone to smudging. Michelle Rostamian, Allure, 3 Sep. 2022
Noun
Jobless and benefit-less: What should COVID-19's economic victims do for health insurance? Shefali Luthra, Phil Galewitz And Rachel Bluth, USA TODAY, 3 Apr. 2020 Hassett warned that March job lesses could be among the worst on record. Kathryn Watson, CBS News, 20 Mar. 2020 But that doesn't make the scar (and the fall that preceded it) any less of an emotional trauma. Leah Prinzivalli, Allure, 8 Oct. 2018 The have-lesses would dig in and hope to sneak something on the break. Joshua Robinson, WSJ, 17 June 2018 Sometimes burp-less is used as a marketing term for Asian varieties of cucumbers. The Editors Of Organic Life, Good Housekeeping, 19 May 2017 Studying at home makes child care less of an obstacle and cuts out commuting time. Cliff Pinckard, cleveland.com, 4 Feb. 2018 The Giants were shut out for the first time 13 years at Arizona, pulse-less on offense. Peter King, SI.com, 26 Dec. 2017 Sleek and Brushed Back Another way to help to minimize the exposure of the scalp is to go part-less with a sleek, brushed back, wet look. Wendy Sy, Allure, 24 Oct. 2017
Preposition
Get ready for a lot less facial hair on your television. Megan Friedman, Country Living, 17 Nov. 2016 See More

Word History

Etymology

Adjective, Adverb, Noun, and Preposition

Middle English, partly from Old English lǣs, adverb & noun; partly from lǣssa, adjective; akin to Old Frisian lēs less

Adjective suffix

Middle English -les, -lesse, from Old English -lēas, from lēas devoid, false; akin to Old High German lōs loose, Old English losian to get lost — more at lose

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Preposition

1623, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of less was before the 12th century
BNC: 379 COCA: 477

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