Less

Definition: Less

Less

Adjective

1. (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree; "of less importance"; "less time to spend with the family"; "a shower uses less water"; "less than three years old".

2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect".

3. (usually preceded by `no)' lower in esteem; "no less a person than the king himself".

4. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases; `we had less apples' is not acceptable) fewer; "less than three weeks"; "no less than 50 people attended"; "in 25 words or less".

Adverb

1. Used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly".

2. Comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days".

Source: WordNet 1.7.1 Copyright © 2001 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
 

Date "less" was first used in popular English literature: sometime before 1050. (references)

Tips from 1870

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

LESS

Source: compiled by the editor, based on several corpora (additional references).

Synonyms: Less

Inferiority

Adjective: inferior, smaller; small; minor, less, lesser, deficient, minus, lower, subordinate, secondary; secondrate; (imperfect); sub, subaltern; thrown into the shade; weighed in the balance and found wanting; not fit to hold a candle to, can't hold a candle to.

Crosswords: Less

I am 42 years old, in less than a year I will be dead (American Beauty; writing credit: Alan Ball)

She and the infant had been buried less than half a year; I would have been happy to join them (Interview with the Vampire: The Vampire Chronicles; writing credit: Anne Rice)

Usually a lot less than people imagine (Eyes Wide Shut; writing credit: Arthur Schnitzler; Stanley Kubrick)

Don't hurt us lady, our take-home is less than $300 (Batman Returns; writing credit: Bob Kane; Daniel Waters)

We must confess that your proposal seems less like science and more like science fiction (Contact; writing credit: Carl Sagan;)

Like it was before neither less or more (Because Of You; performing artist: 98 Degrees; writing credit: Anders Bagge, Arntor Birgisson, Christian Karlsson, and Patrick Tucker)

Nothin' less for y'all (Ugly; performing artist: Bubba Sparxxx)

When we wanted us less (Glycerine; performing artist: Bush)

The less I say the more my work gets done (Philadelphia Freedom; performing artist: Elton John)

But life goes on no less. (In My Arms; performing artist: Erasure)

To be good is noble, but to teach others how to be good is nobler and less trouble. (references; author: Mark Twain)

Sign at a crematorium: Urn more. Pay less. (references; author: unknown)

Events are less important than our response to them. (references; author: unknown)

For people who like peace and quiet: A phone less cord. (references; author: unknown)

The more you sweat in peace, the less you bleed in war. (references; author: unknown)

El less wal kilab (1962)

More Pay - Less Work (1926)

Less Than Kin (1918)

Thirty Minutes or Less (2001)

Date Less (2000)

One Less Bell to Answer (performing artist: The Fifth Dimension)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

References

• The World Market for Coated Paper and Paperboard Used for Writing and Printing with Less Than 150 G/M2 and 10% by Weight of Fiber by Mechanical Process, in Rolls or Sheets: A 2004 Global Trade Perspective (reference)

  (more reference examples)

Books

• Once-A-Month Cooking: A Proven System for Spending Less Time in the Kitchen and Enjoying Delicious, Homemade Meals Everyday (reference)

• Shootout on Wall Street: The $4000 to $1000000 Formula in Less Than a Year (reference)

• Every Night Italian: 120 Simple Delicious Recipes You Can Make in 45 Minutes or Less (reference)

• The 80/20 Principle: The Secret to Success by Achieving More with Less (reference)

• Eat That Frog! 21 Great Ways to Stop Procrastinating and Get More Done in Less Time (reference)

  (more book examples)

Periodicals

• Country Musical Trails Less Traveled (reference)

• Financial Aid In Less Than 3000 Words (reference)

• Travel Well For Less (reference)

  (more periodical examples)

Theater & Movies

• A Life Less Ordinary (reference)

• Less Than Zero (reference)

• Not One Less (reference)

  (more DVD examples; more video examples)

Music

• The Road Less Traveled (reference)

• Classical Music For A Stress Less World (reference)

  (more classical music examples; more popular music examples)

High Tech

• FaxServe 6.0 for Netware and Groupwise Upgrade Less Than 50 Users (reference)

• Orgplus Professional 4 Less Than 5000 Boxes (reference)

  (more camera examples; more video game examples; more computer examples; more electronic examples; more software examples)

Consumer Goods

• Biesemeyer 78-955 T-Square Table Saw BladeGuard System for Fences Less Than 40" Long (reference)

  (more baby examples; more wireless phone examples; more garden examples; more kitchen examples; more tool examples)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

This is a cartoon from Harper's Weekly circa 1890. It shows an office worker, whose smoking cigar is drooping from his mouth, reading a sign on the wall: "No Smoking In Offices During Office Hours". The caption reads: "another civic-service outrage. Less smoke and more fire". Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

Taxol, found in the bark of the pacific yew tree (taxus brevifolin), is a promising anti-cancer drug. It takes 30,000 pounds of bark (2,000-4,000 trees) to produce one kilogram of taxol. The tree had to be sacrificed to produce the bark. It can take decades for pacific yew to reach shoulder height, small trees yield less bark. Alternatives for producing taxol are being explored. Credit: Unknown photographer/artist.

Distribution is similar to that of measles but the lesions are less intensely red. Credit: CDC.

Third stage mosquito larvae of the genus Anopheles generally have a wide and heavily sclerotized collar on the posterior border of the head. Fourth instars have a smaller, less prominent collar. Credit: CDC.

The West Fjords are a series of peninsulas in northwestern Iceland. They represent less than one-eighth the country's land area, but their jagged perimeter accounts for more than half of Iceland's total coastline. Credit: NASA.

Sound ranging operations of 8th FAOB 70 sound bases established in less than one year Image from the 8th FAOB Album. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

A little less primitive ferry boat in the Southern Philippines. Credit: Coast & Geodetic Survey Historical Image Collection.

Photo #1 of Mount St. Elias sequence. Mount Saint Elias is one of the largest mountains visible from the sea on the North American continent. It rises to a height of 18,008 feet in a distance of less than 20 miles from sea level at Icy Bay. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Photo #2 of Mount St. Elias sequence. Mount Saint Elias is one of the largest mountains visible from the sea on the North American continent. It rises to a height of 18,008 feet in a distance of less than 20 miles from sea level at Icy Bay. Credit: America's Coastlines.

Photo #1.Cross-section of first spine of dorsal fin of young bluefin tuna showing annual growth rings. These rings are similar to tree growth rings. The wide (brown) areas represent summer growth during periods of high food intake. The narrow (white) bands represent periods of less fast growth during the winter when the fish's metabolism slows. Credit: Fisheries.

Source: pictures compiled by the editor from various references; see picture credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

And if any of the said assizes cannot be taken on the day of the county court, let there remain of the knights and freeholders, who were present at the county court on that day, as many as may be required for the efficient making of judgments, according as the business be more or less. (reference)

Their persons are free by a native right, and their properties, be they more or less, are their own, and at their own dispose, and not at his; or else it is no property. (Second Treatise of Government)

All are instruments of labour, more or less expensive to use, according to their age and sex. (reference)

Option by a husband will cover his wife and option by parents will cover their children less than 18 years of age. (reference)

No one in any country has slept less well in their beds because this knowledge and the method and the raw materials to apply it, are at present largely retained in American hands. ("Iron Curtain" Speech)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

I hope time has not made you less willing to pardon

Of the remaining 28, no less than 26 have sent in accidental solutions, and therefore fall short of the highest honours

No wind that blew was bitterer than he, no falling snow was more intent upon its purpose, no pelting rain less open to entreaty

Not the less, however, came this importunately obtrusive sense of change

It was evident that in less than five minutes his ribs would be crushed

less likely to get hurt by our cruel world, when obviously the reverse is true

Have read little and understood less.

As the day went forward the sun became less red.

It stood prominent six feet, and could not be less than sixteen in circumference

Such too, to a greater or less extent, is the condition of the operatives of every denomination in England, which is the great workhouse of the world

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Health

Use these less often. (references)

Its structure is less dense. (references)

They may become less regular. (references)

Business

Only agriculture grew by less than 5 percent. (references)

Prices are becoming less dependent on distance. (references)

They use it less frequently to purchase equipment. (references)

Children

Cape Verde

Attendance rates by boys and girls differ by less than 1 percent. (references)

Paraguay

However, female have less access to education, particularly in rural areas. (references)

Guatemala

Children in rural and indigenous areas are less likely to complete primary school. (references)

Civil Liberties

Cuba

Artistic expression is less restricted. (references)

Azerbaijan

Internet access costs less than $1 (4,600 manats) per hour. (references)

Congo

Public demonstrations were less common, and there were no known public protests. (references)

Discrimination

Vietnam

This prohibition is less restrictive than in past years because of the growth in private sector job opportunities. (references)

Bhutan

It claims that ethnic Nepalese fill 22 percent of government jobs, which is slightly less than their proportion of the total population. (references)

Economic History

Mexico

Negotiations will take less time. (references)

Human Rights

Ethiopia

The Dedesa camp is in an area less prone to malaria. (references)

Spain

In practice pretrial custody is usually less than a year. (references)

Madagascar

Prison cells average less than 1 square yard of space per inmate. (references)

Indigenous People

Denmark

The compensation is substantially less than the amount that the defendants sued for, and the case remained under appeal in the Supreme Court at year's end. (references)

Finland

Sami (Lapps), who constitute less than 0.1 percent of the population, benefit from legal provisions that provide for the protection of minority rights and customs. (references)

Australia

The Bureau of Statistics' report entitled Australia's Health 2000 concluded that the average life expectancy of an indigenous person continues to be 20 years less than that of a nonindigenous person. (references)

Minorities

Ethiopia

At the higher ranks the officer personnel is much less ethnically diverse. (references)

New Zealand

Asians, who make up less than 5 percent of the population, also experience discrimination. (references)

Bahrain

In the private sector, Shi'a citizens tend to be employed in lower paid, less skilled jobs. (references)

Political Economy

SWEDEN

The standard legal work week is 40 hours or less. (references)

INDONESIA

Some projects do proceed on less concessional terms. (references)

COSTA RICA

Workplace enforcement is less effective outside the San Jose area. (references)

Political Rights

Yemen

Voter registration of women is less than half that of men. (references)

Cyprus

Elections for members of the House of Representatives are held every 5 years or less. (references)

Indonesia

Women represent less than 9 percent of DPR members, a decrease from 13 percent during Soeharto's last term. (references)

Trade

El Salvador

K. Plain silver coins of less than 0.900 purity. (references)

Russia

By now the procedures are more or less worked out. (references)

Vietnam

Most sectors of the economy are likely to pay less under VAT. (references)

Travel

Uae

Apartments can be less expensive. (references)

Colombia

Dinner meetings tend to be less formal. (references)

Peru

Tourists staying less than 90 days do not require visa. (references)

Women

Switzerland

Women also are promoted less than men. (references)

Sierra Leone

The less severe form of excision is practiced. (references)

Slovak Republic

On average women earn 22 percent less than men. (references)

Worker Rights

Dominican Republic

Many cane cutters earn less than $4.00 (60 pesos) per day. (references)

South Africa

Strikes were shorter and less disruptive than in previous years. (references)

Guinea

Union activities in Conakry face less harassment and interference. (references)

Source: compiled by the editor from ICON Group International, Inc.; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references.

Expressions using "less": ad more or less ♦ at less ♦ become less ♦ become less crass ♦ become less frequent ♦ do with less ♦ for less ♦ get less ♦ grow less ♦ i could care less ♦ i could not care less ♦ i couldn't care less ♦ in less than ♦ in less than no time ♦ it's more or less the same ♦ less ... than ♦ less and less ♦ less developed country ♦ less expensive ♦ less known ♦ less numerous ♦ less of that! ♦ less pollution ♦ less procedural language ♦ less than ♦ less than carload freight ♦ little less than ♦ make less ♦ make less monotonous ♦ make less severe ♦ meat in pieces of less than 100 grams ♦ more haste less speed ♦ more or less ♦ much less ♦ neither more nor less ♦ neither more nor less than ♦ never the less ♦ no less than ♦ no more no less ♦ none the less ♦ nothing less than ♦ of less importance ♦ of two evils choose the less ♦ relatively less developed ♦ speak less and do more ♦ still less ♦ the less ... the less ♦ The more and less ♦ two in distress make sorrow less ♦ W3 Opportunities in the Less Favoured Regions ♦ What You See Is More Or Less What You Get. Additional references.

Beginning with "less": less-able, less-accountable, less-adoring, less-advantaged, less-affluent, less-anxious, less-artificial, less-boring, less-busy, less-celebrated, less-chart-more-chat, less-cited, less-committed, less-complex, less-congested, less-contrived, less-costly, less-damaging, less-deep, less-developed, less-digestible, less-direct, less-dramatic, less-easily, less-ebullient, less-educated, less-efficient, less-eligibility, less-energetic, less-enlightened, less-exotic, less-expensive, less-explosive, less-exposed, less-fashionable, less-favoured, less-financially, less-focal, less-fortunately-placed, less-frequent, less-frequented, less-gender-segregated, less-glamourous, less-hallowed, less-hardy, less-harmful, less-hierarchical, less-ideal, less-important, less-involved, less-lofted, less-lovely, less-obvious, less-often, less-palatial, less-performing, less-perishable, less-permeable, less-policed, less-popular, less-precise, less-predictable, less-privileged, less-processed, less-prominent, less-promising, less-pronounced, less-quantified, less-rare, less-reputable, less-resigned, less-restricted, less-rigid, less-risky, less-safe, less-saline, less-salubrious, less-segregated, less-serious, less-sickly, less-skilled, less-solid, less-standard, less-stereotyped, less-sticky, less-stiff, less-strenuous, less-striking, less-structured, less-studied, less-successful, less-symmetrical, less-talented, less-technical, LESS-THAN, less-than-adequate, less-than-advertised, less-than-apocalyptic, less-than-brash, less-than-bright, less-than-brilliant, less-than-carload, less-than-cautious, less-than-chivalrous, less-than-convincing, less-than-distinguished, less-than-earth-shaking, less-than-easy, less-than-enchanting, less-than-equal, less-than-expected, less-than-fashionable, less-than-firmly-established, less-than-generous, less-than-glowing, less-than-hallowed, less-than-ideal, less-than-immaculate, less-than-inspiring, less-than-linear, less-than-optimal, less-than-perfect, less-than-poetic, less-than-proper, less-than-reliable, less-than-respectable, less-than-rigorous, less-than-ringing, less-than-state-of-the-art, less-than-successful, less-than-suitable, less-than-tactful, less-than-the-dust, less-than-willow, less-trafficked, less-traveled, less-urbanized, less-visited, less-wasteful, less-welcome, less-well, less-well-known, less-well-off, less-well-paid, less-wooded, less-worn.

Ending with "less": boundary-less, bra-less, car-less, couldn't-care-less, goal-less, more-or-less, never-the-less, none-the-less, soul-less.

Containing "less": bit-less-bad, no-less-a-weapon, slightly-less-ephemeral.

Afrikaans

minder (fewer). (various references)

Albanian

pa (minus, sans, wanting, without), më rrallë, më pak (least), më i vogël (lesser, minimal, minor), më i pakët (lesser, minor). (various references)

Arabic 

‏أقل (minimal, minus, under), ‏أصغر (lesser, minimum), ‏أدني (lesser, low, lower, nethermost), ‏بدرجة أقل. (various references)

Basque

gutxitan (to literally less), gutxi (to less). (various references)

Bulgarian 

не толкова, минус (minus, negative sign), без (but for, minus, out of, sans, wanting), по-малък дял, по-малък (lesser, minor, under), по-малко, по-малка част, по-малка порция. (various references)

Chinese 

较少 (fewer, lesser), 較少 . (various references)

Czech

menší (minor, petty, smaller), ménì (minus, under), méně. (various references)

Danish

mindre (fewer). (various references)

Dutch

minder (fewer), min (affection, diminutive, fewer, little, love, minus, small). (various references)

Esperanto

malpli (fewer). (various references)

Faeroese

minni (fewer, memory, recollection). (various references)

Farsi 

پست تر (Beneath, Lower), کمتر (Lesser, Minor, Minus, Short), کهتر, کوچکتر (Beneath, Lesser, Minor), اصغر (Junior, Lesser, Minor). (various references)

Finnish

vähempi (smaller), vähemmän, pienempi (lesser, minor, smaller), miinus (minus). (various references)

French

moins. (various references)

Galician

menos. (various references)

German

weniger (fewer, lesser), geringer (inferior, lesser, minor, wanes). (various references)

Greek 

μικρότεροσ (lesser, minor, smaller, younger), μείον (minus), ελάσσων (minor), λιγότεροσ, λιγότερος, ολιγώτερα, ολιγώτεροσ (lesser). (various references)

Hebrew 

מעט (few, little, mite, slightly, some, sprinkling), קטן יותר (lesser), פחות (depreciation, devaluation, diminution, inferior, least, meagre, mediocre, minus, reduction, scanty), חסר (deficient, devoid, missing, short, void, wanting). (various references)

Hungarian

kisebb mértékben, kisebb (lesser, minor, pilferage), kevesebb (lesser, minus, short), kevésbé. (various references)

Indonesian

kurang (deficient, minus), ampas (dregs, settlings, trash, waste). (various references)

Italian

meno (apart from, as little as, except, fewer, least, minus, not as ... as, not as much, not so, not so ... as, under, unless), minore (inferior, junior, lesser, lower, lowest, minor, petty, shorter, smaller, smallest, younger, youngest). (various references)

Japanese Kanji 

尚 (exalted, further, furthermore, greater, lord, more, noble, precious, priceless, prince, sacred, still, still more, valuable, words of a ruler, yet). (various references)

Japanese Katakana 

レス , なお (common, further, furthermore, greater, mischief, more, ordinary, still, still more, straight, yet). (various references)

Korean 

더 적은 (lesser). (various references)

Malagasy

latsaka. (various references)

Manx

ny sloo (lesser, littler, shorter, smaller), looid (diminutiveness, littleness), gyn shalee, gyn kiarail, gyn bree (pointless, sapless, unexciting, weak, weak as style), agh (albeit, but, except; steed, only, riding horse). (various references)

Norwegian

minus, mindre (lesser). (various references)

Papiamen

menos (fewer). (various references)

Pig Latin

esslay.(various references)

Polish

mniej (fewer). (various references)

Portuguese

menos (but, fewer, least, lesser, minus, wanting, with the exception of). (various references)

Portuguese Brazilian

menos, menor. (various references)

Romanian

mai puţin (except, lesser), mai mic (lesser, minor), inferior (base, below the mark, bottom, coarse, feeble, inferior, lesser, lower, mean, Nether, penny-a-line, second, subordinate, under), fãrã (besides, clear of, devoid of, ex, minus, save, wanting, without). (various references)

Russian 

меньше, меньший (lesser, smallish), менее меньший менее меньше, менее, без (but for, sans, through no, with no, without). (various references)

Scottish

lugha (smaller). (various references)

Serbo-Croatian

u manjem stepenu, manje (fewer). (various references)

Spanish

menos (apart from, besides, but, except, fewer, least, minus, other than, smaller), menor (infant, junior, juvenile, kid, least, lesser, littler, littlest, minor, scrawnier, skimpier, small, smaller, smallest, under age, young, younger). (various references)

Swedish

mindre (fewer, lesser, minor, not very much, smaller). (various references)

Thai

น้อยกว่า, หักออก. (various references)

Turkish

içermeyen (not including, quit, sans), eksik miktar, eksik (defective, deficiency, deficient, gappy, imperfect, inadequate, incommensurate, incompetent, incomplete, insufficient, lacking, lame, minus, missing, missing part, out, ragged, scrimp, scrimpy, short, shortfall, shy, sketchy, skimp, skimpy, wanting), eksi (minus, negative), daha küçük şey, daha küçük (lesser, smaller), daha az şey, daha az (lesser), çıkarılmak üzere. (various references)

Ukrainian

менше (smaller), менший (lesser, smaller, smallish, under), без (ex, minus, till, wanting, without), другорядний (accessary, accessory, accidental, minor, non essential, off, secondary, subordinate). (various references)

Vietnamese 

số lượng không bằng, số lượng ít hơn, nhỏ hơn, không bằng (unequal, unlevelled), kém (coarse, low, poor, third-rate, vile), bé hơn, ít hơn. (various references)

Welsh

llai (smaller). (various references)

meion. (various references)

deterius, minime, minor, minus, parum, parumne, parumque. (various references)

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Source: compiled by the editor from various references; see credits.

Derivations

Words beginning with "less": lessee, lessees, lessen, lessened, lessening, lessens, lesser, lesson, lessoned, lessoning, lessons, lessor, lessors. (additional references)

Words ending with "less": accentless, actionless, affectionless, affectless, ageless, agendaless, aidless, aimless, airless, ambitionless, anchorless, angerless, armless, armorless, artless, ashless, asteriskless, aweless, awless, awnless, backless, barbless, barkless, barless, baseless, basementless, bathless, beakless, beamless, beardless, beatless, bedless, beefless, beltless, bibless, blameless, bless, bloodless, blotless, bodiless, boneless, bootless, bottomless, boundless, bowelless, bowless, brainless, brakeless, braless, branchless, breathless. (additional references)

Words containing "less": affectlessness, affectlessnesses, agelessly, agelessness, agelessnesses, aimlessly, aimlessness, aimlessnesses, airlessness, airlessnesses, artlessly, artlessness, artlessnesses, blamelessly, blamelessness, blamelessnesses, blessed, blesseder, blessedest, blessedly, blessedness, blessednesses, blesser, blessers, blesses, blessing, blessings, bloodlessly, bloodlessness, bloodlessnesses, bootlessly, bootlessness, bootlessnesses, bottomlessly, bottomlessness, bottomlessnesses, boundlessly, boundlessness, boundlessnesses, brainlessly, brainlessness, brainlessnesses, breathlessly, breathlessness, breathlessnesses, carelessly, carelessness, carelessnesses, ceaselessly, ceaselessness, ceaselessnesses. (additional references)

Misspellings

"Less" is suggested in spellcheckers for the following: elses, Essc, esss, ezs, lasc, lasx, lds, Lecc, leds, Leesas, lefsa, Leiss, Leisz, leks, leos, Lesa, Lesc, leses, lesk, lessa, lesse, lessl, lexs, Lez, leza, lezi, Lezo, lezs, lis, lisc, lisq, lissy, Lizs, lls, lms, ls, lsd, lse, lses, lsw, luscs, Luss, luzs, Lysys, Plessy, Qes, ules. (additional references)

Source: compiled by the editor (additional references); see credits.

Scrabble® Enable2K-Verified Anagrams

Direct Anagrams: sels.

-1 letter: els, ess, sel.

-2 letters: el, es.

+1 letter: bless, isles, lases, loess, loses, lyses, sales, seals, seels, selfs, sells, sleds, slews, sloes, slues, soles.

+2 letters: aisles, awless, closes, dossel, dulses, easels, filses, fusels, hassel, hassle, hosels, islets, istles, lapses, lasers, lashes, lasses, lassie, leases, leasts, lenses, lessee, lessen, lesser, lesson, lessor, lisles, looses, losels, losers, losses, louses, lushes, lyases, missel, mussel, ousels, passel, plisse, pluses, pulses, rassle, sables, saleps, salves, scales, selahs, selles, selsyn, selvas, selves, sepals, shales, sheals, shells, sheols, shiels, shleps, sidles, skelms, skelps, slakes, slates, slaves, sleeks, sleeps, sleets, slices, slides, sliest, slimes, slipes, slopes, slyest, slypes, smells, smelts, smiles, snells, socles, soleus, solves, sorels, spales, speels, speils, spells, spelts, spiels, spiles, stales, steals, steels, steles, stiles, stoles, styles, swales, swells, tassel, teslas, tussle, unless, valses, vessel.