| / English Dictionary |
LEAST
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Something that is of no importance
Example:
that is the least of my concerns
Classified under:
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents
Hypernyms ("least" is a kind of...):
affair; matter; thing (a vaguely specified concern)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
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
Example:
he has the least talent of anyone
Classified under:
Domain usage:
superlative (an exaggerated expression (usually of praise))
Antonym:
most (the superlative of 'much' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by 'the'; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree)
III. (adverb)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Used to form the superlative
Example:
The garter snake is the least dangerous snake
Synonyms:
least; to the lowest degree
Classified under:
Antonym:
most (used to form the superlative)
Context examples:
Several times during the night he sprang to his feet when the shed door rattled open, expecting to see the Judge, or the boys at least.
(The Call of the Wild, by Jack London)
If he's all you say he is, at least I can do as much for him then, as you have done.
(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)
There were no more animals with which to fight—at least, there was none considered worthy of fighting with him.
(White Fang, by Jack London)
My heart was full, and I did not answer him, but as I proceeded, I weighed the various arguments that he had used and determined at least to listen to his tale.
(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)
A non taxonomic grouping of bacteria assigned to and including at least four related species from the Nocardia genus.
(Nocardia asteroides Complex, NCI Thesaurus)
All states test for at least 30 of these conditions.
(Newborn Screening, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
These biscuits, should anything befall me, would keep me, at least, from starving till far on in the next day.
(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)
There is usually nerve damage that causes at least some paralysis of the legs.
(Neural Tube Defects, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
For vomiting in children and adults, avoid solid foods until vomiting has stopped for at least six hours.
(Nausea and Vomiting, NIH)
This protein is one of at least two proteins that are similar in amino acid sequence to PP32 and are part of the same acidic nuclear phosphoprotein gene family.
(ANP32C Protein, NCI Thesaurus/LocusLink)
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