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Entry 11 senses · 4 variants Webster, 1913

Small

/(sma̤l)/ · IPA /smoːl/
01 a. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimensi…
  1. 1.
    Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river.
    “To compare Great things with small.” — Milton.
  2. 2.
    Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business.
  3. 3.
    Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean.
    “A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.” — Carlyle.
  4. 4.
    Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space.
  5. 5.
    Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud.
Phrases & compounds
Great and small — of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons.
Small arms — muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon.
Small beer — See under Beer.
Small coal — Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires
Small craft — a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size.
Small fruits — See under Fruit.
Small hand — a certain size of paper. See under Paper.
Small hours — See under Hour.
Small letter — a lower-case letter. See Lower-case, and Capital letter, under Capital, a.
Small piece — a Scotch coin worth about 2<frac:1_4/d. sterling, or about 4<frac:1_2/cents.
Small register — See the Note under 1st Register, 7.
Small stuff — spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope.
Small talk — light or trifling conversation; chitchat.
Small wares — various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like.
02 adv. In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly.
  1. 1.
    In or to small extent, quantity, or degree; little; slightly.[Obs.]
  2. 2.
    Not loudly; faintly; timidly.[Obs. or Humorous]
    “You may speak as small as you will.” — Shak.
03 n. The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
  1. 1.
    The small or slender part of a thing; as, the small of the leg or of the back.
  2. 2.
    Smallclothes.[Colloq.]
  3. 3.
    Same as Little go. See under Little, a. See: Little
04 v. t. To make little or less.
  1. 1.
    To make little or less.[Obs.]