less 1 S1 W1 / les / 副词 #

1 not so much or to a smaller degree 反义词 more :

Maybe he would worry less if he understood the situation.

In recent years she has appeared in public less frequently.

less (…) than

Tickets were less expensive than I had expected.

much/a lot/far less

Social class matters a lot less than it used to.

not … any the less/no less (= not less )

Your second point is no less important.

It’s a common problem but this doesn’t make it any the less disturbing.

I know he’s done a dreadful thing, but I don’t love him any the less.

be less a … than a … (= be not so much like one thing as another )

‘Will you please come with me?’ It was less a request than a command.

2 less than helpful/honest/enthusiastic etc not at all helpful, honest etc :

He was less than enthusiastic about the idea.

3 less and less used to say that a quality, situation etc gradually decreases 反义词 more and more :

As the years went by, he seemed to care less and less about his reputation.

Smoking in the workplace is becoming less and less acceptable.

4 much/still less used to say that a greater thing is even less true, likely, or possible than the thing you have just mentioned :

These people can scarcely afford to buy food, still less luxury goods like perfume.

I didn’t think Dave would ever read a book, much less write one himself.

less 2 S1 W1 determiner , pronoun #

1 a smaller amount or not as much OPP more :
Doctors recommend eating less salt. People today seem to have less time for each other. Most of us got £4 an hour, but some received even less. less of The map covered less of the area than I’d thought. Flying is less of a risk than driving. less (…) than She knows less than I do about it. less than 10/100 etc a distance of less than 100 metres much/a lot less It costs much less to go by bus.

Grammar Less , not ‘fewer’, should be used before an uncountable noun :
Less electricity is used. ► Sometimes people use less before a plural noun, but many people think that this is incorrect, so it is better to use fewer , especially in writing :
There are fewer delays (NOT less delays). 2 no less a) used to emphasize that an amount or number is large no less than By 1977, the USA was importing no less than 45% of its oil. b) used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is important or impressive :
Our awards were presented by the mayor, no less. The message came from no less a person than the prime minister. 3 nothing less than something used to emphasize how important, serious, or impressive something is :
His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation. 4 less and less a decreasing amount of something OPP more and more :
They began spending less and less time together. less and less of The band was doing less and less of that kind of music. 5 in less than no time very quickly or very soon :
In less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000. 6 less of something British English spoken used to tell a child to stop doing something :
Less of that noise, please!

less 3 preposition formal #

taking away or not including a particular amount SYN minus :
What is 121 less 36? He gave us our money back, less the $2 service charge.