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

  1. leastadjective

    something that is of no importance

    "it is the least I can do"; "that is the least of my concerns"

  2. 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"

  3. least, to the lowest degreeadverb

    used to form the superlative

    "The garter snake is the least dangerous snake"

Wiktionary

  1. 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

  1. 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.

  2. 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

  1. 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

  1. least

    Least can be defined as the smallest in amount, extent, or importance; the lowest or smallest possible or necessary.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Leastadjective

    smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space

  2. Leastadverb

    in the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it

  3. Least

    see Lest, conj

  4. Etymology: [OE. last, lest, AS. lsast, lsest, superl. of lssa less. See Less, a.]

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. 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.).]

  2. Least

    lēst, conj. (Spens.). Same as Lest.

Suggested Resources

  1. Least

    Last vs. Least -- In this Grammar.com article you will learn the differences between the words Last and Least.

British National Corpus

  1. Spoken Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Spoken Corpus Frequency: #2292

  2. Written Corpus Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Written Corpus Frequency: #3617

  3. Adverbs Frequency

    Rank popularity for the word 'least' in Adverbs Frequency: #186

Anagrams for least »

  1. astel

  2. lates

  3. leats

  4. salet

  5. setal

  6. slate

  7. stale

  8. steal

  9. stela

  10. taels

  11. tales

  12. teals

  13. tesla

How to pronounce least?

How to say least in sign language?

Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of least in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of least in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of least in a Sentence

  1. Roopal Kundu:

    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.

  2. Sean Mayers:

    An anonymous note with a sarcastic message is the least mean way to vent your frustration with a neighbor.

  3. Petri Hawkins Byrd:

    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.

  4. Gul Mohammad:

    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.

  5. Chris Stringer:

    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

least#1#710#10000

Translations for least

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"least." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 19 Mar. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/least>.

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