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small

small

1 1.0
Made of very tiny particles
  • adjective
  • /smɔl/
  • Specialized
: fino
  • During a spring 2009 visit to Shahdad, he discovered a small stone container lying on the ground.
  • small particles

Examples

  • The streams flowing in are very small, and they flow through very diffuse channels.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Now these are very small particles of iron.

  • Our team filled all these small bottles this afternoon.

  • Systems can be small and simple or large, complex, and made up of smaller subsystems.

    Academic text (2015)
  • This is actually awesome how small this charger is.

  • She has lost a small piece of a very large puzzle.

  • The seeds look like small kind of elongated discs.

  • The laboratory measured extremely small particles in the air to assess pollution levels.

  • In the experiment, we used small particles of sand to demonstrate sedimentation.

  • Scientists observed how small droplets of water formed on the surface of the leaves.

Synonyms

tiny
vssmall
∞ 1.0

So small it can fit in your hand

focuses on particle-level division rather than whole-object dimensions
fine
vssmall
130 1.0

Has very small particles so it feels smooth

emphasizes being finely divided rather than general smoothness or thinness
microscopic
vssmall
57 4.8

So small that only a microscope can see it

means finely divided without necessarily being invisible to the eye
minute
vssmall
38 5.8

Extremely small and hard to see

focuses on particle fineness specifically rather than overall smallness
minuscule
vssmall
23 4.4

Very small in size or amount

centers on particle fineness rather than general degree of smallness
miniscule
vssmall
  • US
17 4.3

Very small and easy to miss

applies to being finely divided rather than simply being very little
fine-grained
vssmall
4 4.4

Contains very small, closely packed particles that make it feel smooth like fine sugar

is broader, focusing on particle division rather than texture alone
ultrafine
vssmall
1 5.2

Something that is very small, like tiny particles or thin fibers

indicates finely divided material without stressing extreme particle thinness
small-grained
vssmall
1 4.0

Made of very small pieces like fine sand

is the general idea of being finely divided rather than naming grain size
microscopical
vssmall
  • Specialized
9.1

So small that you can only see it with a microscope

refers to fine particle division rather than guaranteed invisibility

Antonyms

29 3.7

A surface like sand or rough cloth that has large grains and is not smooth

21 3.5

Thick and full of small pieces, like peanut butter

Idioms

small wonder
  • Informal
6 4.4

Not surprising because the facts make it clear

A difficult and impressive achievement

4 7.7

Worry too much about small, unimportant things

A small action that leads to a very large benefit for all people

2 5.5

An important person in a small group who has more power than elsewhere

1 9.3

People print words very small in documents to hide important details

You do a little at a time instead of trying everything at once

Compounds

407 1.5

A community with few people and few shops

small talk
  • Informal
83 2.1

Polite short talk about simple topics like the weather

56 2.7

Used for projects or models that are not large

small arm
  • Specialized
26 4.9

A gun like a handgun or rifle that a person can carry

21 1.0

A boat that is small and used for short trips on lakes or rivers

17 3.3

A large amount of money that is more than you expect

16 1.0

A small extra payment you give to use a service

15 2.0

A person who owns or works on a small farm to grow food

small intestine
  • Specialized
13 3.4

A long narrow tube between the stomach and large bowel that digests food and takes in nutrients

12 2.8

A person who owns or runs a small company with fewer than 100 employees

9 2.3

A small amount of money in coins that is not worth much

Part of the United States government that helps small businesses with loans and advice

small fry
  • Offensive
7 6.9

People or groups seen as unimportant compared to others

6 3.8

Important details in an agreement or document printed in very small type

small cap
  • Specialized
6 6.3

A company on the stock market with a small market value

5 4.9

A very early time in the morning soon after midnight

3 1.8

A person who is shorter than most people and has a light build

3 4.4

Wild animals like rabbits and pheasants that people hunt for food or sport

small-cap
  • Specialized
2 7.0

A company or stock with a small market value, often under one billion dollars

2 1.9

A letter that is not a capital letter

A small problem when people do not understand each other

A warm, friendly feeling in a small town where people know each other

small-capitalization
  • Specialized
1 7.9

Of companies worth less than one billion dollars

small beer
  • Archaic
1 7.9

Something unimportant and not worth much attention

1 5.8

With wings that are small for its body

1 8.8

A small irregular galaxy near the Milky Way that you can see from the Southern Hemisphere

small fry
  • Informal
1 7.4

Young children who are not yet adults

small cell carcinoma
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A very serious cancer made of small round cells that grows and spreads quickly in the lungs

small capital
  • Specialized
1 7.7

A letter that looks like a big letter but is the height of a small letter used for emphasis

Animals like chickens or rabbits that people keep for eggs, meat and money

1 6.3

An inner feeling that quietly tells you right from wrong

small cap
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A capital letter the same height as a small letter used for style

An activity of searching for and shooting small wild animals and birds for food or sport

1 5.1

Very small bits of dirty matter in the air that come from smoke and engines and can harm people's health

small man syndrome
  • Offensive
1 8.2

A man who acts overly aggressive to hide feeling weak or less important

A baby who is much smaller and lighter than usual for their pregnancy length

A company that gives small loans to people who cannot get bank loans

A common way to connect a computer to devices like printers or hard drives

A plant that produces small fruit

1 4.3

An animal with ears that are small for its head

1 4.4

A plant or crop with smaller parts inside its fruit than other kinds

small calorie
  • Specialized
6.3

Amount of heat that raises one gram of water by one degree Celsius at normal air pressure

5.8

A grass like reeds that grows in wet places like marshes, often in the southern United States

A low trailing plant of cold places that makes small red berries you can eat

A rude word for someone, often a man, who acts loud and angry to hide low confidence

A small animal like a cat that is active at night and lives in Southeast Asian forests

A tiny, not exact bit of something

8.1

A shop on a ship where sailors buy personal items taken from their pay

small stuff
  • Specialized
8.6

A thin rope on a ship used for small tasks like tying or securing

small slam
  • Jargon
9.2

A bridge result when players win all but one trick in a hand

small white aster
  • Specialized
8.7

A small plant that comes back each year with white daisy-like flowers

A large European tree with small dark green leaves often planted in parks

small-leaved linden
  • Specialized
8.1

A large European tree with small dark green leaves grown for its shade and beauty

A belief in small communities that favors tradition and close relationships

A quiet inner feeling that tells you when something is wrong

How Fine

ultrafine
1 5.2
small
  • Specialized
1 1.0
fine
130 1.0
powdery
10 3.0
granular
9 5.1
coarse
29 3.7

Surface Forms

small positive
smaller comparative
smallest superlative

Etymology

Small comes from an old German word smal meaning 'narrow' or 'thin'. We use small for fine or tiny particles because these bits are very little and thin, keeping the idea of being very small.