lit·tle / ˈlitl/ • adj. small in size, amount, or degree (often used to convey an appealing diminutiveness or express an affectionate or condescending attitude): the plants will grow into little bushes a little puppy dog a boring little man he's a good little worker. ∎  (of a person) young or younger: my little brother when she was little she was always getting into scrapes. ∎  denoting something, esp. a place, that is named after a similar larger one: New York's Little Italy. ∎  used in names of animals and plants that are smaller than related kinds, e.g., little grebe. ∎  of short distance or duration: stay for a little while we climbed up a little way. ∎  relatively unimportant; trivial (often used ironically): we have a little problem I can't remember every little detail.• adj. & pron. 1. (a little) a small amount of: [as adj.] we got a little help from my sister [as pron.] you only see a little of what he can do. ∎  [pron.] a short time or distance: after a little, the rain stopped.2. used to emphasize how small an amount is: [as adj.] I have little doubt of their identity there was very little time to be lost [as pron.] he ate and drank very little the ruble is worth so little these days. • adv. (less / les/ , least / lēst/ ) 1. (a little) to a small extent: he reminded me a little of my parents I was always a little afraid of her.2. (used for emphasis) only to a small extent; not much or often: he was little known in this country he had slept little these past weeks. ∎  hardly or not at all: little did he know what wheels he was putting into motion.PHRASES: in little archaic on a small scale; in miniature.little by little by degrees; gradually: little by little the money dried up.little or nothing hardly anything.make little of treat as unimportant: they made little of their royal connection.no little considerable: a factor of no little importance.not a little a great deal (of); much: not a little consternation was caused. ∎  very: it was not a little puzzling.quite a little a fairly large amount of: some spoke quite a little English. ∎  a considerable: it turned out to be quite a little bonanza.DERIVATIVES: lit·tle·ness n.