little [1] (DETERMINER, QUANTIFIER, AND ADVERB USES)
1 det You use little to indicate that there is only a very small amount of something. You can use `so', `too', and `very' in front of little .
DET n-uncount
I had little money and little free time..., I find that I need very little sleep these days..., There is little doubt that a diet high in fibre is more satisfying..., So far little progress has been made towards ending the fighting...
Little is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n (Antonym: much)
Little of the existing housing is of good enough quality...
Little is also a pronoun., pron
In general, employers do little to help the single working mother..., Little is known about his childhood.
2 adv Little means not very often or to only a small extent.
ADV with v
On their way back to Marseille they spoke very little...
3 det A little of something is a small amount of it, but not very much. You can also say a very little.
DET n-uncount
Mrs Caan needs a little help getting her groceries home..., A little food would do us all some good..., I shall be only a very little time.
Little is also a pronoun., pron
They get paid for it. Not much. Just a little.
Little is also a quantifier., quant QUANT of def-n-uncount/sing
Pour a little of the sauce over the chicken..., I'm sure she won't mind sparing us a little of her time.
4 adv If you do something a little, you do it for a short time.
ADV after v
He walked a little by himself in the garden.
5 adv A little or a little bit means to a small extent or degree.
ADV after v, ADV adj/adv
He complained a little of a nagging pain between his shoulder blades..., He was a little bit afraid of his father's reaction..., If you have to drive when you are tired, go a little more slowly than you would normally...
6 If something happens little by little, it happens very gradually.
little by little phrase PHR with cl
(=gradually)
In the beginning he had felt well, but little by little he was becoming weaker...
