less

Definitions from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Wikipedia

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Pronunciation 1.3 Adverb 1.3.1 Translations 1.4 Determiner 1.5 Usage notes 1.6 Preposition 1.6.1 Antonyms 1.6.2 Derived terms 1.6.3 Translations 1.6.4 See also

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Old English læs

[edit] Pronunciation

• IPA: /lɛs/, SAMPA: /lEs/
•  Audio (US)^{help, file}
• Rhymes: -ɛs

[edit] Adverb

less

1. to smaller extent
2. in lower degree

   None the less.

[edit] Translations

[edit] Determiner

less(superlative least)

1. Comparative form of little

   I have less than you have.

   I have less tea than coffee.

   (proscribed) Ten items or less (see usage notes, or entry at fewer).

[edit] Usage notes

Many people restrict less as a determiner to mean smaller in size or amount. They proscribe the use of less to mean smaller in number, for which fewer is the preferred adjective.
However, the proscribed usage is very common, and considered to be normal usage in some regions. See fewer for a complete discussion.

[edit] Preposition

less

1. minus; not including

   It should then tax all of that as personal income, less the proportion of the car's annual mileage demonstrably clocked up on company business.

[edit] Antonyms

• more

[edit] Derived terms

• more or less
• nevertheless

[edit] Translations

• Dutch: minder, minder dan
• French: fr|moins de, fr|moins que

  I have less tea than you - J'ai moins de thé que toi

  I have less tea than coffee - J'ai moins de thé que de café

  I had to wait less than ten minutes - J'ai dû attendre moins que dix minutes

• German: weniger, weniger als

  I have less tea than you - Ich habe weniger Tee als du

  I have less tea than coffee - Ich habe weniger Tee als Kaffee

  I had to wait less than ten minutes - Ich mußte weniger als zehn Minuten warten

• Ido: min
• Italian: meno it(it)

  I have less tea than you - Ho meno tè di te

  I have less tea than coffee - Ho meno tè che caffé

  I had to wait less than ten minutes - Ho dovuto aspettare meno di dieci minuti

• Romanian: mai puţin ro(ro)
• Swedish: mindre sv(sv)

  I have less tea than you - Jag har mindre te än du (colloquial), Jag har mindre te än vad du har (formal)

  I have less tea than coffee - Jag har mindre te än kaffe

  I had to wait less than ten minutes - Jag fick vänta mindre än tio minuter (voluntary or forced act)

[edit] See also

• fewer