different between small vs flimsy
small
English
Pronunciation
- (UK)
- (Received Pronunciation) IPA(key): /sm??l/
- Rhymes: -??l
- (US)
- (General American) IPA(key): /sm?l/
- (cot–caught merger) IPA(key): /sm?l/
- (Canada) IPA(key): /sm?l/
- (General Australian, General New Zealand) IPA(key): /smo?l/
Etymology
From Middle English smal, from Old English smæl (“small, narrow, slender”), from Proto-Germanic *smalaz (“small”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)mal-, *(s)mel- (“small, mean, malicious”). Cognate with Scots smal; sma (“small”); West Frisian smel (“narrow”); Dutch smal (“narrow”); German schmal (“narrow, small”); Danish, Norwegian, Swedish smal (“narrow; thin; slender”); Latin malus (“bad”); Russian ?????? (mályj, “small”).
Adjective
small (comparative smaller, superlative smallest)
- Not large or big; insignificant; few in number.
- (figuratively) Young, as a child.
- (writing, incomparable) Minuscule or lowercase, referring to written or printed letters.
- Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; paltry; mean.
- 1851, Thomas Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling
- A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man.
- 1851, Thomas Carlyle, The Life of John Sterling
- Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short.
- (archaic) Slender, gracefully slim.
Synonyms
- (not large or big): little, microscopic, minuscule, minute, tiny; see also Thesaurus:tiny
- (young, as a child): little, wee (Scottish), young
- (of written letters): lowercase, minuscule
Antonyms
- See also Thesaurus:large
- (not large or big): capital, big, generous (said of an amount of something given), large
- (young, as a child): adult, grown-up, old
- (of written letters): big, capital, majuscule, uppercase
Derived terms
Translations
Adverb
small (comparative smaller, superlative smallest)
- In a small fashion. (Can we add an example for this sense?)
- In or into small pieces.
- 2009, Ingrid Hoffman, CBS Early Morning for September 28, 2009 (transcription)
- That's going to go in there. We've got some chives small chopped as well.
- 2009, Ingrid Hoffman, CBS Early Morning for September 28, 2009 (transcription)
- (obsolete) To a small extent.
- (obsolete) In a low tone; softly.
Derived terms
- writ small
Noun
small (plural smalls)
- (rare) Any part of something that is smaller or slimmer than the rest, now usually with anatomical reference to the back.
Derived terms
- small of the back
Verb
small (third-person singular simple present smalls, present participle smalling, simple past and past participle smalled)
- (obsolete, transitive) To make little or less.
- (intransitive) To become small; to dwindle.
- 1917, Thomas Hardy, The Clock of the Years
- And smalled till she was nought at all.
- 1917, Thomas Hardy, The Clock of the Years
Anagrams
- malls
Icelandic
Verb
small (strong)
- first-person singular past indicative of smella
- third-person singular past indicative of smella
Low German
Etymology
From Middle Low German smal, from Old Saxon smal, from Proto-Germanic *smalaz. Cognate with German schmal, Dutch smal, English small.
Adjective
small (comparative smaller, superlative smallst)
- narrow
- small, slender
Declension
Middle English
Adjective
small
- Alternative form of smal
Norwegian Bokmål
Verb
small
- (non-standard since 2005) past tense of smelle
Norwegian Nynorsk
Verb
small
- past tense of smella
Swedish
Verb
small
- past tense of smälla.
Anagrams
- malls
small From the web:
- what small business to start
- what small animals eat grass
- what small pet should i get
- what small dogs don't shed
- what small dogs are hypoallergenic
- what small dogs don't bark
- what small stocks to buy today
- what small business can i start from home
flimsy
English
Etymology
Origin uncertain. First used in the 18th century. Perhaps a metathesis of film +? -s +? -y; or related to flimflam.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /?fl?mzi/
Adjective
flimsy (comparative flimsier or more flimsy, superlative flimsiest or most flimsy)
- Likely to bend or break under pressure.
- Synonyms: weak, shaky, flexible, fragile
- Antonyms: robust, strong, sturdy
- 1715, Richard Brinsley Sheridan, The Rivals
- All the flimsy furniture of a country miss's brain.
- (figuratively) Weak; ill-founded.
- Synonyms: weak, feeble, unconvincing
- Antonyms: well-founded, substantiated
Translations
Noun
flimsy (plural flimsies)
- Thin typing paper used to make multiple copies.
- 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 251:
- Smiley peered once more at the flimsy which he still clutched in his pudgy hand.
- 1977, John Le Carré, The Honourable Schoolboy, Folio Society 2010, p. 251:
- (naval slang) A service certificate
- 1964, Australia. Parliament, Records of the Proceedings and Printed Papers of the Parliament
- A perusal of the comments of officers under whom he has served as recorded in his “flimsies" indicates that he has almost consistently received high commendation for his service.
- 1994, John Wells, The Royal Navy: An Illustrated Social History, 1870-1982 (page 7)
- Regulations required a commanding officer to render annual confidential reports on the character and ability of his officers - with particular reference to sobriety - on forms known as 'flimsies'.
- 1964, Australia. Parliament, Records of the Proceedings and Printed Papers of the Parliament
- (informal, in the plural) Skimpy underwear.
- (slang) A banknote.
Translations
flimsy From the web:
- what flimsy means
- what flimsy excuse
- what flimsy paper
- flimsy what is the definition
- what causes flimsy nails
- what is flimsy file
- what do flimsy mean
- what is flimsy tire
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