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Wordnet 3.0

ADJECTIVE (3)

1. (comparative of `little'; usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree;
- Example: "of less importance"
- Example: "less time to spend with the family"
- Example: "a shower uses less water"
- Example: "less than three years old"

2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality;
- Example: "no less than perfect"

3. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer;
- Example: "less than three weeks"
- Example: "no less than 50 people attended"
- Example: "in 25 words or less"


ADVERB (2)

1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs;
- Example: "less interesting"
- Example: "less expensive"
- Example: "less quickly"
[syn: less, to a lesser extent]

2. comparative of little;
- Example: "she walks less than she should"
- Example: "he works less these days"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Less \Less\, v. t. To make less; to lessen. [Obs.] --Gower. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Less \Less\ (l[e^]s), conj. Unless. [Obs.] --B. Jonson. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Less \Less\, a. [OE. lesse, AS. l[=ae]ssa; akin to OFries. l[=e]ssa; a compar. from a lost positive form. Cf. Lesser, Lest, Least. Less has the sense of the comparative degree of little.] Smaller; not so large or great; not so much; shorter; inferior; as, a less quantity or number; a horse of less size or value; in less time than before. [1913 Webster] Note: The substantive which less qualifies is often omitted; as, the purse contained less (money) than ten dollars. See Less, n. [1913 Webster] Thus in less [time] than a hundred years from the coming of Augustine, all England became Christian. --E. A. Freeman. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Less \Less\, adv. [AS. l[=ae]s. See Less, adj., and cf. Lest.] Not so much; in a smaller or lower degree; as, less bright or loud; less beautiful. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

Less \Less\, n. 1. A smaller portion or quantity. [1913 Webster] The children of Israel did so, and gathered, some more, some less. --Ex. xvi. 17. [1913 Webster] 2. The inferior, younger, or smaller. [1913 Webster] The less is blessed of the better. --Heb. vii. 7. [1913 Webster]
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

-less \-less\ (-l[e^]s) suff. [AS. le['a]s loose, false; akin to OS. l[=o]s loose, false, D. los loose, loos false, sly, G. los loose, Icel. lauss loose, vacant, Goth. laus empty, vain, and also to E. loose, lose. [root]127. See Lose, and cf. Loose, Leasing.] A privative adjective suffix, denoting without, destitute of, not having; as witless, childless, fatherless. [1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

less adv 1: used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs; "less interesting"; "less expensive"; "less quickly" [syn: less, to a lesser extent] [ant: more, to a greater extent] 2: comparative of little; "she walks less than she should"; "he works less these days" [ant: more] adj 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" [ant: more than, more(a)] 2: (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality; "no less than perfect" 3: (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"