small / smôl/ • adj. of a size that is less than normal or usual: the room was small and quiet the small hill that sheltered the house. ∎  not great in amount, number, strength, or power: a small amount of money. ∎  not fully grown or developed; young: as a small boy, he spent his days either reading or watching TV. ∎  used as the first letter of a word that has both a general and a specific use to show that in this case the general use is intended: I meant “catholic” with a small c. ∎  insignificant; unimportant: these are small points. ∎  (of a voice) lacking strength and confidence: “I'm scared,” she said in a small voice. ∎  little; hardly any: the captain had been paying small attention. ∎  (of a business or its owner) operating on a modest scale: a small farmer. ∎ archaic low or inferior in rank or position; socially undistinguished: at dinner, some of the smaller neighbors were invited.• adv. into small pieces: the okra cut up small. ∎  in a small size: you shouldn't write so small.PHRASES: feel (or look) small feel (or look) contemptibly weak or insignificant.it's a small world used to express surprise at meeting an acquaintance or discovering a personal connection in a distant place or an unexpected context.no small —— a good deal of ——: a matter of no small consequence.the small of the back the part of a person's back where the spine curves in at the level of the waist.small potatoes inf. something insignificant or unimportant: her business was small potatoes.small wonder not very surprising: it's small wonder that her emotions had seesawed.DERIVATIVES: small·ish adj.small·ness n.