Definitions for Least
listleast

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.0 / 8 votes

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"

WiktionaryRate this definition:2.0 / 2 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. least

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

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 5 votes

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 DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 2 votes

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 ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

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?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

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. Albert Mekondane Obounou:

   The temporary count informs us that at least 25 people were killed in the bombings.

2. Patrick Stefano:

   In Philadelphia, at least 18 teachers who never set foot in a classroom last year received over $1.7 million from the school district while performing union work during school hours, another concern is that the district has no knowledge or control over what teachers are doing while on this type of leave — the teachers could be working toward goals that the district believes could be harmful to its operation.

3. Kelly Nokes:

   While The EPA is encouraging that The EPA is taking at least some minimal action to protect the public from deadly M-44s, updating a few use restrictions -- nearly impossible to enforce and commonly ignored -- fails to meaningfully address the problem, the EPA is blatantly ignoring The EPA fundamental duty to protect the public, our pets, and native wildlife from the cruel, lethal impacts of cyanide bombs lurking on our public lands.

4. Deena Kastor:

   At least from the middle distance and distance side of things, Americans have done very well at getting on the podium at the world championships and the Olympics Games.

5. Tawan Throngkumpola:

   This is probably the least disabled veteran-friendly school in the nation right now.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Least
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Least
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=Least
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Least
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Least
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Least