adjective / noun

small

SMAWL/smɔːl/

Limited in size or extent.

The small flowerpot rests beside a much larger pot of the same shape.

A small terracotta flowerpot beside a much larger matching flowerpot, both empty and resting on the same surface.

Etymology

Old English smæl described something thin or narrow and also came to mean little in size. This physical sense extended to limited amounts and then to things of little importance.

In context

Long Beach Public Library10:50

and the small house architectural and social movement is gaining attention across the world and the united states it advocates a return to living simply in small houses of less than a thousand square feet

Exploring Our Historic Districts

More examples

This box is smaller than the one we used yesterday.
One small mistake does not ruin the entire project.
She wears a small in this brand.
A rolled towel supports the small of his back.

Forms

small · smaller · smallest · smalls

smallness noun — The quality of being limited in size.

Similar words

little: Often suggests affection or insignificance as well as size.
tiny: Means extremely small, rather than merely below average size.
compact: Describes something efficiently arranged to take up little space.