less
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- smaller, shorter
[preposition]
Synonyms:
- minus, excepting, lacking, subtracting, without

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

-less /ləs/ suffix [in adjectives]
[Language: Old English; Origin: -leas, from leas 'lacking, false']

1. without something:
I felt powerless.
a childless couple
tasteless food

2. not doing or using something:
You’re too careless.
It’s perfectly harmless.

3. not possible to treat or affect in a particular way:
on countless occasions
She’s tireless.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

I. less¹ S1 W1 /les/ adverb

1. not so much or to a smaller degree Antonym : more:
Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation.
In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.
less (...) than
Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.
much/a lot/far less
Social class matters a lot less than it used to.
not ... any the less/no less (=not less)
Your second point is no less important.
It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing.
I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.
be less a ... than a ... (=be not so much like one thing as another)
‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.

2. less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc:
He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.

3. less and less used to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases Antonym : more and more:
As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation.
Smoking in the workplace is becoming less and less acceptable.

4. much/still less used to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned:
These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume.
I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. less² S1 W1 determiner, pronoun

1. a smaller amount or not as much Antonym : more:
Doctors recommend eating less salt.
People today seem to have less time for each other.
Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less.
less of
The map covered less of the area than I’d thought.
Flying is less of a risk than driving.
less (...) than
She knows less than I do about it.
less than 10/100 etc
a distance of less than 100 metres
much/a lot less
It costs much less to go by bus.
GRAMMAR
Less, not 'fewer', should be used before an uncountable noun:
Less electricity is used.
► Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer, especially in writing:
There are fewer delays (NOT less delays).

2. no less
a) used to emphasize that an amount or number is large
no less than
By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil.
b) used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive:
Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less.
The message came from no less a person than the prime minister.

3. nothing less than something used to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is:
His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.

4. less and less a decreasing amount of something Antonym : more and more:
They began spending less and less time together.
less and less of
The band was doing less and less of that kind of music.

5. in less than no time very quickly or very soon:
In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.

6. less of something British English spoken used to tell a child to stop doing something:
Less of that noise, please!

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

III. less³ preposition formal
taking away or not including a particular amount Synonym : minus:
What is 121 less 36?
He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

less
I.
pronoun
BAD: If there were less cars on the roads, there would be less accidents.
GOOD: If there were fewer cars on the roads, there would be fewer accidents.

Usage Note:
Use less with an uncountable noun and fewer with the plural form of a countable noun: 'Less traffic would mean fewer accidents.'
Note that less is widely used in place of fewer in everyday conversation, but careful users regard this usage as non-standard.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

less
II.
adverb
BAD: Teachers today are less stricter than they used to be.
GOOD: Teachers today are less strict than they used to be.

Usage Note:
The comparative ending (-er ) is NEVER used with less or more .

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

less
les
See: more or less , much less

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲