few

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Determiner 1.3.1 Usage notes 1.3.2 References 1.3.3 Translations 1.3.4 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

From Old English fēaw.

[edit] Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /fjuː/, SAMPA: /fju:/
• (US) IPA: /fju/, SAMPA: /fju/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}

  Rhymes: -uː

[edit] Determiner

few (comparative fewer, superlative fewest)

1. (preceded by another determiner) An indefinite, but usually small, number of.

   I was expecting lots of people at the party, but very few (=almost none) turned up.

   Quite a few of them (=many of them) were pleasantly surprised.

   I don't know how many drinks I've had, but I've had a few. [This usage is likely ironic.]

2. (used alone) Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.

   There are few people who understand quantum theory.

   Many are called, but few are chosen.

3. (meteorology, of clouds) (US?) Obscuring one eighth to two eighths of the sky.

   Tonight.. A few clouds. Increasing cloudiness overnight.

   NOAA definition of the term "few clouds": An official sky cover classification for aviation weather observations, descriptive of a sky cover of 1/8 to 2/8. This is applied only when obscuring phenomenon aloft are present--that is, not when obscuring phenomenon are surface-based, such as fog.

4. (meteorology, of rainfall with regard to a location) (US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.

[edit] Usage notes

• Few is used with plural nouns only; its synonymous counterpart little is used with uncountable nouns.

[edit] References

• Meteorology (both senses)

  NOAA Glossary: f

[edit] Translations

[edit] Related terms

• a few
• little
• quite a few