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Glite Dictionary
pint-size

pint-size

1 4.4
Very small in height, usually used for a person or animal
  • adjective
  • /ˈpaɪntˌsaɪz/
  • Informal
translation icon : pequeño
  • Despite her pint-size stature, she had a big personality and was the life of the party.
  • pint-size jar
  • pint-size table

Examples

  • Life for these fierce, pint-size predators is a deadly serious game of risk and reward.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Atom and his pint-size trainer step into the ring and the look on Farra Lemkova's face says it all.

    Real Steel (2011)

  • Amid their pride in their children's zeal for all things green, the grown-ups sometimes end up feeling like scofflaws under the watchful eye of the pint-size eco-police, whose demands grow ever greater and more expensive.

    Blog text (7)

  • The children's pint-size furniture made their playroom feel cozy and inviting.

  • He bought a pint-size bicycle that was perfect for his small frame and easy to maneuver.

Synonyms

small
vspint-size
∞ 1.0

Not large in size or amount

refers to being notably short in height rather than generally limited
tiny
vspint-size
∞ 1.0

So small it can fit in your hand

refers specifically to being small in height rather than general size
diminutive
vspint-size
20 6.8

Very small in size

refers more narrowly to short stature rather than extreme smallness
pint-sized
vspint-size
  • Informal
7 4.2

Very small, often used for a person, animal, or thing that is lively

has identical meaning but is written with a different form
sawed-off
vspint-size
  • Offensive
1 7.8

Very short in height, often used about people

is neutral and used for small stature without informal tone
runty
vspint-size
  • Informal
1 7.8

Smaller and weaker than others of the same kind

describes small stature without suggesting poor growth or weakness
sawn-off
vspint-size
  • Offensive
8.0

A person who is very short and stocky

focuses on shortness without implying stocky or stunted build
petit
vspint-size
7.1

Small in size or amount, often used in law and food

applies to physical short stature rather than amounts or legal contexts

Antonyms

big
∞ 1.0

Larger than usual in size or amount

large
∞ 1.0

Bigger than average in size, number, or amount

How Small

tiny
∞ 1.0
pint-size
  • Informal
1 4.4
small
2 1.1
medium
162 1.3
large
∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

pint-size positive

Morphology

pint-size = pint + size (transparent) = pint + size

The meaning 'very small' is directly inferable from 'pint' (a small measure) + 'size' though it is somewhat figurative.

Etymology

The word pint-size comes from pint, a small drink measure, and size, meaning 'how big'. Think of someone the size of a small 'pint' cup, and that's why pint-size means 'very small' or shorter than average.