less

det.

pron.

1. （与不可数名词连用）较少的，更少的
   used with uncountable nouns to mean ‘a smaller amount of’
   1. less butter/time/importance
      较少的黄油 / 时间；次要
   2. He was advised to smoke fewer cigarettes and drink less beer.
      有人劝他少抽烟、少喝啤酒。
   3. We have less to worry about now.
      现在我们要担忧的事少一些了。
   4. It is less of a problem than I'd expected.
      问题不像我预料的那么大。
   5. We'll be there in less than no time (= very soon) .
      我们马上就到。
   6. The victory was nothing less than a miracle.
      这场胜利是个不折不扣的奇迹。

adv.

1. 较少；较小；更少；更小；没那么多；少
   to a smaller degree; not so much
   1. less expensive/likely/intelligent
      价钱较便宜；可能性较小；智力较差
   2. less often/enthusiastically
      不那么经常 / 热情
   3. I read much less now than I used to.
      我现在看的书比过去少得多。
   4. The receptionist was less than (= not at all) helpful.
      那接待员一点忙都不帮。
   5. She wasn't any the less happy for (= she was perfectly happy) being on her own.
      她并不因独自一人而有一丁点儿不快活。
   6. That this is a positive stereotype makes it no less a stereotype, and therefore unacceptable.
      这种成见即使是积极的也依然是成见，因而是不可取的。

prep.

1. 减去；扣除
   used before a particular amount that must be taken away from the amount just mentioned
   1. a monthly salary of $2 000 less tax and insurance
      月薪2 000元，从中扣除税款和保险费

Less is often considered to be the comparative form of little.
less常被看作是little的比较级。

1. DET （数量）较小（或少）的；更小（或少）的（前面可用a little，a lot，a bit，far和much等修饰）
   You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use 'a little', 'a lot', 'a bit', 'far', and 'much' in front of less.
   1. People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease.
      人们应该减少脂肪摄入，以降低患心脏病的危险。
   2. ...a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines...
      较旧式机器省水省电的洗碗机
   3. Children of very low ability should not be permitted to pay less attention to the sciences.
      不应让能力非常差的孩子放松对理科课程的学习。
   4. Less is also a pronoun.
      
   5. Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and saving more.
      借债人正努力减少支出、增加储蓄，以缓解财务紧张的窘况。
   6. Less is also a quantifier.
      
   7. Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies...
      去年，投入高科技公司的资金有所减少。
   8. The other option would be for me to own less of the house but that would be stupid.
      还有一个选择是我放弃房子的部分产权，但这是个蠢办法。
2. PREP-PHRASE （用在数字或数量前）少于，低于，比…少
   You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this.
   1. Motorways actually cover less than 0.1 percent of the countryside...
      高速公路的实际覆盖面积还不到农村地区的0.1%。
   2. Less than a half hour later he returned upstairs.
      不到半个小时，他又跑上楼来。
3. ADV-COMPAR （某一特性的程度与以往或一般情况相比）较轻地，较差地
   You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual.
   1. I often think about those less fortunate than me...
      我经常想到那些没我这么幸运的人。
   2. Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room...
      还有一些不太常有的设施，包括图书馆和健身房。
   3. Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be.
      贫穷问题已较过去有所缓解。
4. ADV-COMPAR 不像…（更像…）；与其说…（倒不如说…）
   If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first.
   1. At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp...
      乍看上去，它不像是首府，更像是矿工村。
   2. Trades union leadership in those days was less a career than a vocation.
      那时候的工会领导与其说是一份职业，倒不如说是一种使命。
5. ADV-COMPAR （做得）较少，更少
   If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often.
   1. We are eating more and exercising less...
      我们吃得多了，锻炼却少了。
   2. I see less of any of my friends than I used to.
      我见所有朋友都比以前少了。
6. PHR-CONJ-COORD （用于否定句后）遑论，更何况，更不用说
   You use the expressions still less ,much less, and even less after a negative statement in order to introduce and emphasize a further statement, and to make it negative too.
   1. I never talked about it, still less about her...
      我从来没说起过这事，更没有提起过她。
   2. The boy didn't have a girlfriend, much less a wife.
      这小伙子连女朋友都没有，更不用提老婆了。
7. PREP （用在数字或数量前）扣除，减去
   When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned.
   1. ...Boyton Financial Services Fees: £750, less £400...
      博伊顿金融服务费：750英镑，扣除400英镑
   2. Company car drivers will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax.
      公司的司机要支付10%到25%，从中扣除税款。

You use less to talk about amounts that cannot be counted. ...less meat. When you are talking about things that can be counted, you should use fewer. ...fewer potatoes.
谈论不可数事物的数量用less，如：less meat（较少的肉）。谈论可数事物则用fewer，如：fewer potatoes（较少的马铃薯）。

8. PHRASE 逐渐减少；越来越小
   You use less and less to say that something is becoming smaller all the time in degree or amount.
   1. The couple seem to spend less and less time together...
      两口子在一起的时间似乎越来越少。
   2. She sounded less and less eager to return to Ireland...
      听她话音，她回爱尔兰的热情似乎日渐消退。
   3. Many basic goods are now rationed. Less and less is available.
      很多基本商品现在都要定量供给。能买到的东西越来越少。
9. PHRASE 毫不；完全不；一点都不
   You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect, you mean that it is not perfect at all.
   1. Her greeting was less than enthusiastic...
      她的问候一点都不热情。
   2. Her advice has frequently been less than wholly helpful.
      她的建议往往毫无帮助。
10. PHRASE （对某事物或某人的重要性表示惊讶或钦佩）竟然，居然
    You can use no less as a way of expressing surprise or admiration at the importance of something or someone.
    1. He had returned to England in an aircraft carrier no less...
       他竟然坐航空母舰回的英格兰。
    2. Who wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith's book? Raymond Chandler, no less.
       帕特里夏·海史密斯那本书是谁改编成剧本的？雷蒙德·钱德勒呀，厉害。
11. PHRASE （对某一数目之大表示惊奇）多达
    You use no less than before an amount to indicate that the amount is larger than you expected.
    1. No less than 35 per cent of the country is protected in the form of parks and nature sanctuaries...
       该国多达35%的地区以公园和自然保护区的形式受到保护。
    2. He is lined up for no less than four US television interviews.
       多达4家美国电视媒体排期邀请他上节目接受采访。
12. couldn't care less → see: care

1. They seem less tense, more even-tempered.
   他们看起来不那么紧张，更加平和了。
2. The marriage had lasted for less than two years
   这段婚姻维持了不到两年。
3. People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease.
   人们应该减少脂肪摄入，以降低患心脏病的危险。
4. Children of very low ability should not be permitted to pay less attention to the sciences.
   不应让能力非常差的孩子放松对理科课程的学习。
5. Motorways actually cover less than 0.1 percent of the countryside
   高速公路的实际覆盖面积还不到农村地区的0.1%。
6. Less than a half hour later he returned upstairs.
   不到半个小时，他又跑上楼来。
7. I often think about those less fortunate than me
   我经常想到那些没我这么幸运的人。
8. Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room
   还有一些不太常有的设施，包括图书馆和健身房。
9. Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be.
   贫穷问题已较过去有所缓解。
10. At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp
    乍看上去，它不像是首府，更像是矿工村。
11. Trades union leadership in those days was less a career than a vocation.
    那时候的工会领导与其说是一份职业，倒不如说是一种使命。
12. We are eating more and exercising less
    我们吃得多了，锻炼却少了。
13. I see less of any of my friends than I used to.
    我见所有朋友都比以前少了。
14. I never talked about it, still less about her
    我从来没说起过这事，更没有提起过她。
15. The boy didn't have a girlfriend, much less a wife.
    这小伙子连女朋友都没有，更不用提老婆了。
16. The couple seem to spend less and less time together
    两口子在一起的时间似乎越来越少。
17. She sounded less and less eager to return to Ireland
    听她话音，她回爱尔兰的热情似乎日渐消退。
18. Many basic goods are now rationed. Less and less is available.
    很多基本商品现在都要定量供给。能买到的东西越来越少。
19. Her greeting was less than enthusiastic
    她的问候一点都不热情。
20. Her advice has frequently been less than wholly helpful.
    她的建议往往毫无帮助。
21. He had returned to England in an aircraft carrier no less
    他竟然坐航空母舰回的英格兰。
22. Who wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith's book? Raymond Chandler, no less.
    帕特里夏·海史密斯那本书是谁改编成剧本的？雷蒙德·钱德勒呀，厉害。
23. He is lined up for no less than four US television interviews.
    多达4家美国电视媒体排期邀请他上节目接受采访。
24. I was meeting these chaps who were mostly more or less my own age.
    我见到了这帮小伙子，他们多数和我年龄相仿。
25. I have spent less time on shore than most men
    我在岸上生活的时间比大多数人都要少。
26. It more or less gets the thumbs up from everyone.
    它多多少少得到了每个人的支持。
27. I feel more compassion and less anger than I used to.
    我觉得自己比过去多了些同情，少了些怒气。

pron.

less and less

• 越来越少
  smaller and smaller amounts
  1. As time passed, she saw less and less of all her old friends at home.
     随着时间的消逝，她越来越见不到家乡那些老朋友了。

no less

• （表示惊讶或钦佩）竟，居然
  used to suggest that sth is surprising or impressive
  1. She's having lunch with the Director, no less.
     她居然在与主管一起进午餐。

no less than…

• （强调大数量）不少于，多达
  used to emphasize a large amount
  1. The guide contains details of no less than 115 hiking routes.
     这本导游指南包括多达115条徒步旅行路线的详细介绍。

adv.

even/much/still less

• 更不用说；更何况
  and certainly not
  1. No explanation was offered, still less an apology.
     连个解释都不给，就更不用说道歉了。

less and less

• 越来越少；越来越小
  continuing to become smaller in amount
  1. She found the job less and less attractive.
     她发觉那工作越来越没意思。

more or less

more or less

adj

1. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer
   1. less than three weeks
   2. no less than 50 people attended
   3. in 25 words or less

2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
   1. no less than perfect

adv

1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
   1. less interesting
   2. less expensive
   3. less quickly

   Synonym:    to a lesser extent

2. comparative of little
   1. she walks less than she should
   2. he works less these days