lesser
Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.
Related to lesser: lesser omentum, to a lesser extent, Lesser of two evils, Lesser sac, Lesser Demon
lesser
smaller: She received a lesser amount.; inferior: a lesser evil
Not to be confused with:
lessor – a person who grants a lease: The lessor agreed to let me stay another month.
Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree
less·er
(lĕs′ər)adj.A comparative of little
1. Smaller in amount, value, or importance, especially in a comparison between two things: chose the lesser evil.
2. Of a smaller size than other, similar forms: the lesser anteater.
adv.A comparative of little
Less. Used before a participle: a lesser-known writer.
n.
One that is lower in importance, rank, magnitude, or degree: the lesser of two evils.
[Middle English, from lesse, less; see less.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
lesser
(ˈlɛsə)adj
not as great in quantity, size, or worth
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
less•er
(ˈlɛs ər)adj. a compar. of little with least as superl.
1. smaller, as in size, value, or importance: a lesser evil.
adv. a compar. of little with least as superl. 2. less.
[1175–1225]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | lesser - of less size or importance; "the lesser anteater"; "the lesser of two evils" greater - greater in size or importance or degree; "for the greater good of the community"; "the greater Antilles" |
| 2. | lesser - smaller in size or amount or value; "the lesser powers of Europe"; "the lesser anteater" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
lesser
adjective lower, slighter, secondary, subsidiary, subordinate, inferior, less important He was feared by other, lesser, men.
higher, greater, major, primary, superior
higher, greater, major, primary, superior
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
lesser
adjectiveThe American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
أقَل منالأقَل
méněmenší
mindre
minna; líttminni; óæîri; síîri
daha az/küçükdaha küçük olandaha önemsiz
lesser
[ˈlesəʳ] ADJ COMPAR of less → menorto a lesser extent or degree → en menor grado
he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge → se declaró culpable del cargo menor
the lesser of two evils → el menor de dos males
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
lesser
[ˈlɛsər] pron
the lesser of two evils → le moindre des deux mauxlesser-known [ˌlɛsərˈnəʊn] adj comparative → moins connu(e)
the lesser of two evils → le moindre des deux mauxlesser-known [ˌlɛsərˈnəʊn] adj comparative → moins connu(e)
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
lesser
adj → geringer; (in names) → klein; to a lesser extent → in geringerem Maße; a lesser amount → ein kleinerer Betrag; the lesser weight → das leichtere Gewicht; lesser offence (Brit) or offense (US) (Jur) → Vergehen nt, → Übertretung f; which is the lesser crime? → welches Verbrechen ist weniger schlimm?; he is a lesser man than his brother (= less good) → er ist kein so guter Mensch wie sein Bruder; (= less great) → er ist weniger bedeutend als sein Bruder
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
lesser
[ˈlɛsəʳ] adj (importance, degree) → minore; (size) → più piccolo/ato a lesser extent or degree → in grado or misura minore
the lesser of two evils → il minore dei due mali
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
less
(les) adjective (often with than) not as much (as). Think of a number less than forty; He drank his tea and wished he had put less sugar in it; The salary for that job will be not less than $30,000.
adverb not as much or to a smaller extent. I like her less every time I see her; You should smoke less if you want to remain healthy.
pronoun a smaller part or amount. He has less than I have.
preposition minus. He earns $280 a week less $90 income tax.
ˈlessen verb to make or become less. The fan lessened the heat a little; When the children left, the noise lessened considerably.
ˈlesser adjective smaller or not as important. the lesser of the two towns.
adverb less. the lesser-known streets of London.
the less … the less/moreetc . The less I see of him, the better (pleased I'll be)!; The less I practise, the less confident I become; The less I try, the more I succeed.
no less a person etc thanas great a person etc as: I had tea with no less a person than the Prime Minister
less is used in speaking about quantity or amount: People should eat less fat ; I've less than $100 in the bank . fewer sould be used in speaking about numbers of individual things or people: I've fewer books than he has ; There were fewer than 50 people at the meeting .
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
lesser
a. comp. of less menor; más pequeño.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012