What does least mean?
Definitions for least
listleast
This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word least.
Princeton's WordNet
leastadjective
something that is of no importance
"it is the least I can do"; "that is the least of my concerns"
least(a)adverb
the superlative of `little' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by `the'; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
"didn't care the least bit"; "he has the least talent of anyone"
least, to the lowest degreeadverb
used to form the superlative
"The garter snake is the least dangerous snake"
Wiktionary
leastadverb
Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.
It was the least surprising thing.
Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
Leastadj. the superlative of little.
Little beyond others; smallest.
Etymology: læst , Saxon.
I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies shewed to thy servant. Gen. xxxii. 10.
A man can no more have a positive idea of the greatest than he has of the least space. John Locke.
Leastadverb
In the lowest degree; in a degree below others; less than any other way.
He resolv’d to wave his suit,
Or for a while play least in sight. Hudibras, p. i.Ev’n that avert; I chuse it not;
But taste it as the least unhappy lot. John Dryden, Knight’s Tale.No man more truly knows to place a right value on your friendship, than he who least deserves it on all other accounts than his due sense of it. Alexander Pope, Letters.
Wikipedia
least
Comparison is a feature in the morphology or syntax of some languages whereby adjectives and adverbs are rendered in an inflected or periphrastic way to indicate a comparative degree, property, quality, or quantity of a corresponding word, phrase, or clause. A superlative construction expresses the greatest quality, quantity, or degree relative to all other comparators. The associated grammatical category is degree of comparison. The usual degrees of comparison are the positive, which simply denotes a property (as with the English words big and fully); the comparative, which indicates greater degree (as bigger and more fully); and the superlative, which indicates greatest degree (as biggest and most fully). Some languages have forms indicating a very large degree of a particular quality (called elative in Semitic linguistics). Other languages (e.g. English) can express lesser degree, e.g. beautiful, less beautiful, least beautiful. The comparative degrees are frequently associated with adjectives and adverbs because these words take the -er suffix or modifying word more or less. (e.g., faster, more intelligent, less wasteful). Comparison can also, however, appear when no adjective or adverb is present, for instance with nouns (e.g., more men than women). However, the usage of the word than between nouns simply denotes a comparison made and not degree of comparison comparing the intensity or the extent of the subjects. One preposition, near, also has comparative and superlative forms, as in Find the restaurant nearest your house.
ChatGPT
least
Least can be defined as the smallest in amount, extent, or importance; the lowest or smallest possible or necessary.
Webster Dictionary
Leastadjective
smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space
Leastadverb
in the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it
Least
see Lest, conj
Etymology: [OE. last, lest, AS. lsast, lsest, superl. of lssa less. See Less, a.]
Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
Least
lēst, adj. (serves as superl. of Little) little beyond all others: smallest.—adv. in the smallest or lowest degree.—advs. Least′ways, Least′wise, at least: however.—At least, or At the least, at the lowest estimate: at any rate. [A.S. læst, contr. from læsast, from læssa (adj.), less, læs (adv.).]
Least
lēst, conj. (Spens.). Same as Lest.
Suggested Resources
Least
Last vs. Least -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Last and Least.
British National Corpus
Spoken Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2292
Written Corpus Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3617
Adverbs Frequency
Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Adverbs Frequency: #186
Anagrams for least »
astel
lates
leats
salet
setal
slate
stale
steal
stela
taels
tales
teals
tesla
Numerology
Chaldean Numerology
The numerical value of least in Chaldean Numerology is: 7
Pythagorean Numerology
The numerical value of least in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3
Examples of least in a Sentence
They key is to find one that is broad-spectrum, at least an SPF 30, that the consumer likes and is able and willing to reapply every two hours when outdoors.
An anonymous note with a sarcastic message is the least mean way to vent your frustration with a neighbor.
My assumption is if you were going on to do something else, that you were at least going to ask me if I wanted to have the opportunity to audition for the role, judge Judy.
But we do need the foreign troops to stay here at least until our own forces are strong enough, while our economy strengthens, while our leaders try to form a government.
This in turn may reinforce the idea that the successful spread of modern humans from Africa after about 60,000 years ago played at least a role, if not the most significant role, in the physical extinction of other forms of humans outside of Africa, however, at least some of those other forms of human did not go completely extinct, since their DNA lives on in us today through ancient interbreeding between the archaic and early modern populations. This leaves open the fascinating possibility that even floresiensis might have contributed some of its DNA to living groups in the region, if there was at least a short overlap between floresiensis and sapiens about 50,000 years ago.
Popularity rank by frequency of use
References
Translations for least
From our Multilingual Translation Dictionary
- اقلArabic
- nejméněCzech
- am wenigsten, geringstGerman
- malmultaEsperanto
- menos, mínimoSpanish
- pienin, vähiten, vähinFinnish
- moins, moindreFrench
- íostaIrish
- कम से कमHindi
- legkisebbHungarian
- minimo, menoItalian
- הכי פחותHebrew
- 最低Japanese
- 가장 적게Korean
- minstDutch
- najmniejPolish
- mínimoPortuguese
- наименьшийRussian
- minimalan, najmanjiSerbo-Croatian
- minstSwedish
- குறைந்ததுTamil
- కనీసంTelugu
- 最小, 最少Chinese
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"least." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/least>.
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