1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not
large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
To compare
Great things with small.
Milton. 2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a
small fault; a small business.
3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; — sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.
Carlyle. 4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. Shak.
5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. "A still, small voice." 1 Kings xix. 12.
Great and small,
of all ranks or degrees; — used especially of persons. "His quests, great and small."
Chaucer. — Small arms, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon. - - Small beer.
See under Beer. — Small coal. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. Gay. (b) Coal
about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening. — Small craft (Naut.),
a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size. — Small fruits. See under Fruit. — Small hand, a
certain size of paper. See under Paper. — Small hours. See under Hour. — Small letter. (Print.),
a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a. — Small piece, a Scotch
coin worth about 2¼d. sterling, or about 4½cents. — Small register. See the Note under 1st Register,
7. — Small stuff (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. R. H. Dana, Jr. —
Small talk, light or trifling conversation; chitchat. — Small wares (Com.), various small textile articles,
as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M&lsquoCulloch.
Small
(Small), adv.
1. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly. [Obs.] "I wept but small." Chaucer. "It small
avails my mood." Shak.
2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]
You may speak as small as you will.
Shak. Small
(Small), n.
1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.] Hood. Dickens.
3. pl. Same as Little go. See under Little, a.
Small
(Small), v. t. To make little or less. [Obs.]