GNU Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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Found 4 definitions 

  1.       
Small (sma̤l), a. [Compar. Smaller (sma̤lˈẽr); superl. Smallest.] [OE. small, AS. smael; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali small cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. μῆλον a sheep or goat.]
    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”.

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    To compare

    Great things with small. Milton.

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    2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, “a small fault; a small business”.

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    3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.

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    A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. Carlyle.


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    4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, “after a small space”.  Shak.

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    5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. “A still, small voice.”  1 Kings xix. 12.

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    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 articl
    es, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. M‘Culloch.

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  2.       
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.

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    2. Not loudly; faintly; timidly. [Obs. or Humorous]

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    You may speak as small as you will. Shak.

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  3.       
Small, n.
    1. The small or slender part of a thing; as, “the small of the leg or of the back”.

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    2. pl. Smallclothes. [Colloq.]  Hood. Dickens.

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    3. pl. Same as Little go. See under Little, a.

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  4.       
Small, v. t. To make little or less. [Obs.]

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