least

det.

pron.

1. 最小的；最少的；程度最轻的
   smallest in size, amount, degree, etc.
   1. He's the best teacher, even though he has the least experience.
      他虽然经验最少，却是最出色的老师。
   2. She never had the least idea what to do about it.
      这事怎么办，她一点主意都没有。
   3. He gave (the) least of all towards the wedding present.
      买结婚礼物，他出的钱最少。
   4. How others see me is the least of my worries (= I have more important things to worry about) .
      别人怎么看我，我一点都不在乎。
   5. It's the least I can do to help (= I feel I should do more) .
      这是我所能帮忙做的最起码的事。

adv.

1. 最小；最少；微不足道
   to the smallest degree
   1. He always turns up just when you least expect him.
      他总是在你最意料不到的时候出现。
   2. She chose the least expensive of the hotels.
      她挑了一家最便宜的旅馆。
   3. I never hid the truth, least of all from you.
      我从不隐瞒事实，尤其是对你。

Least is often considered to be the superlative form of little.
least常被看作little的最高级。

1. PHRASE （数量）至少，不少于
   You use at least to say that a number or amount is the smallest that is possible or likely and that the actual number or amount may be greater. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
   1. ...a dinner menu featuring at least 15 different sorts of fish...
      至少列有15道不同做法的鱼的菜单
   2. Aim to have at least half a pint of milk each day...
      目标是每天至少喝半品脱的牛奶。
   3. About two-thirds of adults consult their doctor at least once a year...
      约有2/3的成年人至少每年就医一次。
   4. Normally it has only had eleven or twelve members in all. Now it will have seventeen at the very least.
      通常总共只有十一二个会员。现在将至少有十七个。
2. PHRASE （表示真实性或可能性）至少，最不济
   You use at least to say that something is the minimum that is true or possible. The forms at the least and at the very least are also used.
   1. She could take a nice holiday at least...
      最不济她也可以去过一个愉快的假期。
   2. He is at least content that there will be no immediate use of force...
      至少他对不会即时使用暴力感到满意。
   3. At the least, I needed some sleep...
      起码我得睡一会儿。
   4. His possession of classified documents in his home was, at the very least, a violation of Navy security regulations.
      他把机密文件藏在家中，至少是违反了海军安全条例。
3. PHRASE （表示相对于不利条件或糟糕情形）起码，不管怎样
   You use at least to indicate an advantage that exists in spite of the disadvantage or bad situation that has just been mentioned.
   1. We've no idea what his state of health is but at least we know he is still alive...
      我们不清楚他的健康情况如何，但起码知道他仍然活着。
   2. If something awful happens to you at least you can write about it.
      如果你遭遇了不幸，至少你有东西可写。
4. PHRASE （表示更正或改变自己刚说过的话）至少，起码
   You use at least to indicate that you are correcting or changing something that you have just said.
   1. It's not difficult to get money for research or at least it's not always difficult...
      争取到研究资金并不难，起码不总是那么难。
   2. The police say his death was an accident, officially at least...
      警方说他的死是个意外，起码官方消息如此。
   3. They didn't actually like the magazine very much, but they bought it or, at the least, borrowed it from each other.
      他们其实并不怎么喜欢这本杂志，但还是会买，或至少会互相借着看。
5. ADJ-SUPERL 最少的
   You use the least to mean a smaller amount than anyone or anything else, or the smallest amount possible.
   1. I try to offend the least amount of people possible...
      我尽量少得罪人。
   2. If you like cheese, go for the ones with the least fat.
      要是喜欢吃奶酪，就吃脂肪含量最少的。
6. PRON
   Least is also a pronoun.
   1. On education funding, Japan performs best but spends the least per student.
      在教育投资方面，日本花在每位学生身上的钱最少，但却做得最好。
   2. Least is also an adverb.
      
   3. Damming the river may end up benefitting those who need it the least.
      筑坝截流最终可能使与该河最无利害关系的人受益。
7. ADV-SUPERL （某一特性）最少，最缺
   You use least to indicate that someone or something has less of a particular quality than most other things of its kind.
   1. The least experienced athletes had caused a great many false-starts through the day's proceedings...
      那天的比赛中，经验最浅的运动员抢跑无数次。
   2. He was one of the least warm human beings I had ever met.
      他是我见过的最冷漠的人之一。
   3. ...the least technically accomplished car in Europe.
      欧洲技术含量最小的汽车
8. ADJ-SUPERL 丝毫的；一丁点儿的
   You use the least to emphasize the smallness of something, especially when it hardly exists at all.
   1. I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about...
      我一点儿都不知道你在说什么。
   2. They neglect their duty at the least hint of fun elsewhere...
      别处哪怕发生一丁点儿乐事，他们便会忘记自己的职责。
   3. The bosses paid less than they had promised and the least complaint went to the police.
      老板们给的钱比原先答应的少，而警方收到的投诉少之又少。
9. ADV-SUPERL （程度）最小
   You use least to indicate that something is true or happens to a smaller degree or extent than anything else or at any other time.
   1. He had a way of throwing her off guard with his charm when she least expected it.
      他往往趁她最没有心理准备时发动魅力攻势，令她措手不及。
10. ADJ-SUPERL 无足轻重的；微乎其微的
    You use least in structures where you are emphasizing that a particular situation or event is much less important or serious than other possible or actual ones.
    1. Having to get up at three o'clock every morning was the least of her worries...
       她发愁的事多着呢，相比之下，每天早上3点就要起床根本就不算什么。
    2. Although three days isn't very long, shortage of time was the least of his problems...
       虽然3天时间不算长，但对他来说，这已经是最不成问题的问题了。
    3. At that moment, they were among the least of the concerns of the government.
       那时，他们还谈不上是政府的心头之患。
11. PRON （应该做的）最少量，最低程度
    You use the least in structures where you are stating the minimum that should be done in a situation, and suggesting that more should really be done.
    1. Well, the least you can do, if you won't help me yourself, is to tell me where to go instead...
       你自己要是不帮我，好歹也告诉我该上哪儿去呀。
    2. The least they could have given me was half a day to rest...
       他们本应该起码给我半天时间休息。
    3. The least his hotel could do is provide a little privacy.
       他的酒店至少应该提供一点隐私保护。
12. PHRASE 丝毫；一点儿
    You can use in the least and the least bit to emphasize a negative.
    1. I'm not like that at all. Not in the least...
       我哪里是那种人。绝对不是。
    2. I'm not in the least bit touched by the Marilyn Monroe kind of beauty...
       我对玛丽莲·梦露那种美一点儿都不动心。
    3. Alice wasn't the least bit frightened.
       艾丽斯一点儿都不怕。
13. PHRASE 最后不能不提；最后但同样重要的是
    You use last but not least to say that the last person or thing to be mentioned is as important as all the others.
    1. ...her four sons, Christopher, twins Daniel and Nicholas, and last but not least 2-year-old Jack.
       她的4个儿子，克里斯托弗、双胞胎丹尼尔和尼古拉斯，还有不能不提的两岁大的杰克
14. PHRASE （用于否定句后）（多者之中）尤其，尤数
    You can use least of all after a negative statement to emphasize that it applies especially to the person or thing mentioned.
    1. No one ever reads these articles, least of all me...
       从没有人读这些文章，我就更不用说了。
    2. Such a speech should never have been made, least of all by a so-called responsible politician.
       这种话本来就不应该说，尤其是不应出自一个所谓负责任的政客之口。
15. PHRASE （强调某一例证或原因）尤其是，特别是，相当重要地
    You can use not least to emphasize a particularly important example or reason.
    1. Dieting can be bad for you, not least because it is a cause of stress...
       节食可能不利于健康，相当重要的原因是它会引起精神压力。
    2. Everyone is more reluctant to travel these days, not least the Americans.
       这段时间大家都减少了出游的欲望，美国人尤其如此。
16. PHRASE 轻则；往轻里说；客气点说
    You can use to say the least to suggest that a situation is actually much more extreme or serious than you say it is.
    1. Accommodation was basic to say the least...
       往轻里说是住宿条件简陋。
    2. Some members of the public can be a bit abusive to say the least.
       有些民众客气点说是嘴里不大干净。

1. Aim to have at least half a pint of milk each day
   目标是每天至少喝半品脱的牛奶。
2. About two-thirds of adults consult their doctor at least once a year
   约有2/3的成年人至少每年就医一次。
3. Normally it has only had eleven or twelve members in all. Now it will have seventeen at the very least.
   通常总共只有十一二个会员。现在将至少有十七个。
4. She could take a nice holiday at least
   最不济她也可以去过一个愉快的假期。
5. He is at least content that there will be no immediate use of force
   至少他对不会即时使用暴力感到满意。
6. At the least, I needed some sleep
   起码我得睡一会儿。
7. His possession of classified documents in his home was, at the very least, a violation of Navy security regulations.
   他把机密文件藏在家中，至少是违反了海军安全条例。
8. We've no idea what his state of health is but at least we know he is still alive
   我们不清楚他的健康情况如何，但起码知道他仍然活着。
9. If something awful happens to you at least you can write about it.
   如果你遭遇了不幸，至少你有东西可写。
10. It's not difficult to get money for research or at least it's not always difficult
    争取到研究资金并不难，起码不总是那么难。
11. The police say his death was an accident, officially at least
    警方说他的死是个意外，起码官方消息如此。
12. They didn't actually like the magazine very much, but they bought it or, at the least, borrowed it from each other.
    他们其实并不怎么喜欢这本杂志，但还是会买，或至少会互相借着看。
13. I try to offend the least amount of people possible
    我尽量少得罪人。
14. If you like cheese, go for the ones with the least fat.
    要是喜欢吃奶酪，就吃脂肪含量最少的。
15. The least experienced athletes had caused a great many false-starts through the day's proceedings
    那天的比赛中，经验最浅的运动员抢跑无数次。
16. He was one of the least warm human beings I had ever met.
    他是我见过的最冷漠的人之一。
17. I don't have the least idea of what you're talking about
    我一点儿都不知道你在说什么。
18. They neglect their duty at the least hint of fun elsewhere
    别处哪怕发生一丁点儿乐事，他们便会忘记自己的职责。
19. The bosses paid less than they had promised and the least complaint went to the police.
    老板们给的钱比原先答应的少，而警方收到的投诉少之又少。
20. He had a way of throwing her off guard with his charm when she least expected it.
    他往往趁她最没有心理准备时发动魅力攻势，令她措手不及。
21. Having to get up at three o'clock every morning was the least of her worries
    她发愁的事多着呢，相比之下，每天早上3点就要起床根本就不算什么。
22. Although three days isn't very long, shortage of time was the least of his problems
    虽然3天时间不算长，但对他来说，这已经是最不成问题的问题了。
23. At that moment, they were among the least of the concerns of the government.
    那时，他们还谈不上是政府的心头之患。
24. Well, the least you can do, if you won't help me yourself, is to tell me where to go instead
    你自己要是不帮我，好歹也告诉我该上哪儿去呀。
25. The least they could have given me was half a day to rest
    他们本应该起码给我半天时间休息。
26. The least his hotel could do is provide a little privacy.
    他的酒店至少应该提供一点隐私保护。
27. I'm not like that at all. Not in the least
    我哪里是那种人。绝对不是。
28. No one ever reads these articles, least of all me
    从没有人读这些文章，我就更不用说了。
29. Dieting can be bad for you, not least because it is a cause of stress
    节食可能不利于健康，相当重要的原因是它会引起精神压力。
30. Accommodation was basic to say the least
    往轻里说是住宿条件简陋。

pron.

at the (very) least

• （用于数量之后）至少，最少
  used after amounts to show that the amount is the lowest possible
  1. It'll take a year, at the very least.
     这至少需要一年时间。

not in the least

• 一点也不；丝毫不
  not at all
  1. Really, I'm not in the least tired.
     说真的，我一点也不累。
  2. ‘Do you mind if I put the television on?’ ‘No, not in the least.’
     “我开电视机你介意吗？”“不，一点也不介意。”

to say the least

• 毫不夸张地说
  without exaggerating at all
  1. I was surprised, to say the least.
     毫不夸张地说，我感到吃惊。

adv.

at least

• 至少；不少于
  not less than
  1. It'll cost at least 500 dollars.
     这东西至少要花500元。
  2. She must be at least 40.
     她至少应该有40岁了。
  3. Cut the grass at least once a week in summer.
     夏天至少每周割草一次。
  4. I've known her at least as long as you have.
     我认识她至少和你认识她的时间一样久了。
• （用于对否定情况补充肯定的评论）起码
  used to add a positive comment about a negative situation
  1. She may be slow but at least she's reliable.
     她虽然迟钝，但起码还很可靠。
• 无论如何；反正
  even if nothing else is true or you do nothing else
  1. You could at least listen to what he says.
     你至少可以听一听他说些什么。
  2. Well, at least they weren't bored.
     唔，反正他们没有厌烦。
• （用以减轻前面所说的话的肯定性）至少
  used to limit or make what you have just said less definite
  1. They seldom complained─officially at least.
     他们很少抱怨——至少不在正式场合抱怨。
  2. It works, at least I think it does.
     它行，反正我认为它行。

not least

• 特别；尤其
  especially
  1. The documentary caused a lot of bad feeling, not least among the workers whose lives it described.
     那部纪录片引起了许多人的反感，尤其是在片中描写到其生活的工人。

last but not least

• （提及最后的人或事物时说）最后但同样重要的
  used when mentioning the last person or thing of a group, in order to say that they are not less important than the others
  1. Last but not least, I'd like to thank all the catering staff.
     最后但同样重要的是，我要感谢所有的餐饮工作人员。

(choose, follow, take, etc.) the line of least resistance

• （采取）最省事的方法
  (to choose, etc.) the easiest way of doing sth

noun

1. something that is of no importance
   1. it is the least I can do
   2. that is the least of my concerns

adv

1. used to form the superlative
   1. The garter snake is the least dangerous snake

   Synonym:    to the lowest degree