not big in size, amount, or importance
The kitten curled up in a small basket beside the warm fireplace.
We live in a small town surrounded by green hills and farms.
✦ Old English smæl “narrow, slender, thin,” of Germanic origin; related to Dutch smal and German schmal.
the smallest available size of a product, especially a drink or snack
I’ll have a small with extra ice, please.
The popcorn comes in three sizes: small, medium, and large.
✦ Derived from the adjective sense of “small,” used elliptically to denote the small size option.
into small pieces or a small size
Cut the onions small so they cook quickly.
The carpenter planed the wood small to fit the tight corner.
✦ Adverbial use of the adjective “small,” recorded since the 17th century, chiefly in British English.
