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less

less
[英] [les] [美] [lɛs] 生词本

adj.

adv.

prep.

n

  • 易混淆的单词：LESS  

  • 柯林斯高阶英汉双解学习词典

  • 英英释义

  • 词典例句

Less is often considered to be the comparative form of little.

less常被看作是little的比较级。

1. DET （数量）较小（或少）的；更小（或少）的（前面可用a little，a lot，a bit，far和much等修饰） You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use 'a little', 'a lot', 'a bit', 'far', and 'much' in front of less. 

  • People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease.

    人们应该减少脂肪摄入，以降低患心脏病的危险。

  • ...a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines...

    较旧式机器省水省电的洗碗机

  • Children of very low ability should not be permitted to pay less attention to the sciences.

    不应让能力非常差的孩子放松对理科课程的学习。

  • Less is also a pronoun.

    • Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and saving more.

      借债人正努力减少支出、增加储蓄，以缓解财务紧张的窘况。

  • Less is also a quantifier.

    • Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies...

      去年，投入高科技公司的资金有所减少。

    • The other option would be for me to own less of the house but that would be stupid.

      还有一个选择是我放弃房子的部分产权，但这是个蠢办法。

2. PREP-PHRASE （用在数字或数量前）少于，低于，比…少 You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this. 

  • Motorways actually cover less than 0.1 percent of the countryside...

    高速公路的实际覆盖面积还不到农村地区的0.1%。

  • Less than a half hour later he returned upstairs.

    不到半个小时，他又跑上楼来。

3. ADV-COMPAR （某一特性的程度与以往或一般情况相比）较轻地，较差地 You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual. 

  • I often think about those less fortunate than me...

    我经常想到那些没我这么幸运的人。

  • Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room...

    还有一些不太常有的设施，包括图书馆和健身房。

  • Poverty is less of a problem now than it used to be.

    贫穷问题已较过去有所缓解。

4. ADV-COMPAR 不像…（更像…）；与其说…（倒不如说…） If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first. 

  • At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp...

    乍看上去，它不像是首府，更像是矿工村。

  • Trades union leadership in those days was less a career than a vocation.

    那时候的工会领导与其说是一份职业，倒不如说是一种使命。

5. ADV-COMPAR （做得）较少，更少 If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often. 

  • We are eating more and exercising less...

    我们吃得多了，锻炼却少了。

  • I see less of any of my friends than I used to.

    我见所有朋友都比以前少了。

6. PHR-CONJ-COORD （用于否定句后）遑论，更何况，更不用说 You use the expressions still less ,much less, and even less after a negative statement in order to introduce and emphasize a further statement, and to make it negative too. 

  • I never talked about it, still less about her...

    我从来没说起过这事，更没有提起过她。

  • The boy didn't have a girlfriend, much less a wife.

    这小伙子连女朋友都没有，更不用提老婆了。

7. PREP （用在数字或数量前）扣除，减去 When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned. 

  • ...Boyton Financial Services Fees: £750, less £400...

    博伊顿金融服务费：750英镑，扣除400英镑

  • Company car drivers will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax.

    公司的司机要支付10%到25%，从中扣除税款。

Usage Note :

You use less to talk about amounts that cannot be counted. ...less meat. When you are talking about things that can be counted, you should use fewer. ...fewer potatoes.

谈论不可数事物的数量用less，如：less meat（较少的肉）。谈论可数事物则用fewer，如：fewer potatoes（较少的马铃薯）。

8. PHRASE 逐渐减少；越来越小 You use less and less to say that something is becoming smaller all the time in degree or amount. 

  • The couple seem to spend less and less time together...

    两口子在一起的时间似乎越来越少。

  • She sounded less and less eager to return to Ireland...

    听她话音，她回爱尔兰的热情似乎日渐消退。

  • Many basic goods are now rationed. Less and less is available.

    很多基本商品现在都要定量供给。能买到的东西越来越少。

9. PHRASE 毫不；完全不；一点都不 You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect, you mean that it is not perfect at all. 

  • Her greeting was less than enthusiastic...

    她的问候一点都不热情。

  • Her advice has frequently been less than wholly helpful.

    她的建议往往毫无帮助。

10. PHRASE （对某事物或某人的重要性表示惊讶或钦佩）竟然，居然 You can use no less as a way of expressing surprise or admiration at the importance of something or someone. 

  • He had returned to England in an aircraft carrier no less...

    他竟然坐航空母舰回的英格兰。

  • Who wrote the screenplay from Patricia Highsmith's book? Raymond Chandler, no less.

    帕特里夏·海史密斯那本书是谁改编成剧本的？雷蒙德·钱德勒呀，厉害。

11. PHRASE （对某一数目之大表示惊奇）多达 You use no less than before an amount to indicate that the amount is larger than you expected. 

  • No less than 35 per cent of the country is protected in the form of parks and nature sanctuaries...

    该国多达35%的地区以公园和自然保护区的形式受到保护。

  • He is lined up for no less than four US television interviews.

    多达4家美国电视媒体排期邀请他上节目接受采访。

12.   couldn't care less→see: care;  more or less→see: more;  nothing less than→see: nothing; 
Adjective

1. (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree;

  • "of less importance"
  • "less time to spend with the family"
  • "a shower uses less water"
  • "less than three years old"

2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality;

  • "no less than perfect"

3. (usually preceded by `no') lower in esteem;

  • "no less a person than the king himself"

4. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer;

  • "less than three weeks"
  • "no less than 50 people attended"
  • "in 25 words or less"
Adverb

1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;

  • "less interesting"
  • "less expensive"
  • "less quickly"

2. comparative of little;

  • "she walks less than she should"
  • "he works less these days"
1. The affixes "un-"and"-less"are often used make negative words, such as unhappy or careless.
词缀un-和-less常用来构成否定词，如unhappy和careless。

来自《简明英汉词典》

2. He comes here less and less.
他来这里的次数越来越少了。

来自《简明英汉词典》

3. She looks less and less beautiful.
她越来越不美。

来自《简明英汉词典》

4. The more you hurry, the less progress you are likely to make.; More haste, less speed.
欲速则不达。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5. The noise became less and less.
声响渐渐小起来了。

来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

6. A gas in solution diffuses from region of greater to one of less concentration.
溶液中的气体由浓度较高的区域向浓度较低的区域扩散。

来自《简明英汉词典》

7. A wise man is never less alone than when alone.
寂寞无扰于智者。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

8. Although much less experienced, he gave a good account of him self in the boxing match.
他虽然很缺乏经验，但在拳击比赛中仍大显身手。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

9. Angles of less than 90 degrees are called acute angles.
小于90度的角叫锐角。

来自《简明英汉词典》

10. Copper has less resistance to electricity than lead.
铜比铅的电阻要小。

来自《简明英汉词典》

11. Ensure that the General Assembly adopt a resolution not less strong than those passed at the previous sessions.
争取联大通过的决议基调不低于去年。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

12. Everybody felt more or less thirsty.
大家都感到有些渴。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

13. Exogamy remains much less prevalent among African Americans.
异族婚姻在非洲裔美国人中仍然很少见。

来自《简明英汉词典》

14. Five is less than seven.
五比七小。

来自《简明英汉词典》

15. Get more done on less money.
少花钱，多办事。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

16. He has less money than ever.
他从来没有过这样少的钱。

来自《简明英汉词典》

17. He is none the less vigorous for his years.
他虽年老而依然健壮。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

18. He is paid less than he really earns.
与他真正该赚得的相比，他的待遇是太少了。

来自《简明英汉词典》

19. He left in less than two weeks time.
没两个星期他就走了。

来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

20. He shouted no less loudly than others.
他的喊声同样大得很。

来自《简明英汉词典》