little */*/*/

I UK [ˈlɪt(ə)l] / US adverb, determiner, pronoun
Word forms "little":
comparative less UK [les] / US superlative least UK [liːst] / US [lɪst]

Summary:

Little can be used in the following ways: - as a determiner (followed by a noun): There's little time left. ♦ Little progress has been made. - as a pronoun: They have very little, but what they have, they share. (after "a"): Yes, I'd like some tea – but just a little. (followed by "of"): Little of the original building has survived. ♦ Can I take a little of this sugar? (after "the"): The little I know won't be of much use to you. - as an adverb: I go there very little. ♦ I'm little affected by the cold. (after "a"): He talked a little about his childhood.
Collocations:
Little and a little are both used before nouns for talking about a small amount of something. But which you choose depends on your attitude.
Little is used for emphasizing that an amount is smaller than you would like or expect: Unfortunately, there is little hope of finding survivors. ♦ There has been little change since this morning.
A little is used for emphasizing that an amount is small, but greater than you might expect: There is still a little time to finish the game. ♦ I had a little money left so I took a taxi.
Little is like "not much" or "not enough"; a little is like "some".

1) a very small amount used for referring to an extremely small amount of something

There is little time to prepare for the exams.

Little has been revealed about his background.

She has done little today besides sleep.

too little:

There was too much rain and too little sun.

very little:

He's an excellent manager, so there's very little tension in the office.

so little:

I've got so much to do and so little time to do it in.

little or no:

She had trained herself to show little or no emotion, whatever happened.

little of:

Jordan has lost little of his Irish accent.

as little as possible:

He always tries to pay the workers as little as possible.

the little:

He didn't earn much money, and he gambled away the little he had saved.

2) not very often or much not very often, or only to a small degree

very little:

In her last years I saw her very little.

Our relationship has changed very little over the years.

as little as possible:

They spoke of him as little as possible.

little known (= not known by many people):

Kang was little known outside of China.

little more/better:

You accused me of being little better than a thief (= almost as bad as a thief).

•

do little to help/solve etc — to fail to help someone/solve something etc

The company did little to prevent the disaster.

He's done little to improve my opinion of him.

(just) that little bit easier/more comfortable etc — spoken easier/more comfortable etc by a small but important amount

The sight of her always makes me feel that little bit happier.

little does someone know/realize — used for saying that someone does not know/realize that something is true

Little did I realize I would one day be in charge of the office.

more than a little/not a little — formal a large amount, or to a large degree

They had sincere respect for her, and not a little affection.

The team was more than a little unlucky to lose by just one point.

- a little

- as little as

- little by little

II UK [ˈlɪt(ə)l] / US adjective
Word forms "little":
adjective little comparative littler superlative littlest

1) [usually before noun] small in size or number

Use the little pan for making the sauce.

There's a little group of us who meet once a week.

a little bit of something:

Little bits of hay still clung to her skirt.

little tiny/tiny little:

There's a little tiny crack in it.

a tiny little garden

a) used in a positive way for referring to small people or things that you like

a little old lady

nice/pretty/cute/sweet/lovely little:

a pretty little cottage in the country

poor little:

Poor little thing, you must be starving!

b) used in a negative way for referring to small people or things that you do not like

You little brat!

one of those narrow-minded little racists

nasty/cheeky/silly/stupid little:

She wrote me a nasty little letter.

2) young, and often small. This word is used mainly by children or when speaking to children

a little boy/girl/child

When I was little, we didn't have computers at school.

3)

a) [only before noun] lasting a short time

a little while:

I'll be with you in a little while.

b) continuing for a short distance

Molly carried her a little way towards the house.

4)

a) not important

He gets upset at the least little thing.

There are just some little details to sort out.

b) used in a humorous way for referring to something that you really think is important

We may have a little problem explaining that to our customers.

5) controlled and involving a small amount of movement, effort, or emotion

a little smile/laugh

Jules said goodnight with a formal little bow.

•

someone's little boy/girl — someone's son/daughter who is still a small child or is treated as if they are a small child

You'll always be Daddy's little girl.

someone's little brother/sister — someone's younger brother/sister

Is this your little brother?

quite the little... — spoken used when you are annoyed about what someone has done and want to make it seem less important

Quite the little hero, aren't you?

- a little bird told me

- a little something

- the little woman