2 ADJ [ADJ n] You use little to indicate that someone or something is small, in a pleasant and attractive way. □ She's got the nicest little house not far from the library. □ …a little old lady. □ James usually drives a little hatchback.
3 ADJ A little child is young. □ I have a little boy of 8. □ When I was little I was very hyper-active.
4 ADJ [ADJ n] Your little sister or brother is younger than you are. □ Whenever Daniel's little sister was asked to do something she always had a naughty reply.
5 ADJ [ADJ n] A little distance, period of time, or event is short in length. □ Just go down the road a little way, turn left, and cross the bridge. □ Why don't we just wait a little while and see what happens. □ I've been wanting to have a little talk with you.
6 ADJ [ADJ n] A little sound or gesture is quick. □ I had a little laugh to myself. □ She stood up quickly, giving a little cry of astonishment. □ He turned with a little nod and I watched him walk away.
7 ADJ [ADJ n] You use little to indicate that something is not serious or important. □ …irritating little habits. □ Harry found himself getting angry over little things that had never bothered him before. SYNONYMS little ADJ ➋1
smalclass="underline" She is small for her age.
tiny: The living room is tiny.
minute: Only a minute amount is needed.
compact: …my compact office in Washington.
diminutive: She noticed a diminutive figure standing at the entrance.
li t|tle fi n|ger (little fingers ) N‑COUNT Your little finger is the smallest finger on your hand.
Li t|tle Lea gue N‑PROPER The Little League is an organization of children's baseball teams that compete against each other in the United States.
lit|to|ral /l I tərəl/ (littorals ) N‑COUNT [usu sing, N n] In geography, the littoral means the coast. [TECHNICAL ] □ …the countries of the north African littoral. □ …the littoral countries of the Persian Gulf.
li|tur|gi|cal /l I tɜː r dʒ I k ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Liturgical things are used in or relate to church services. [FORMAL ]
lit|ur|gy /l I tə r dʒi/ (liturgies ) N‑VAR A liturgy is a particular form of religious service, usually one that is set and approved by a branch of the Christian Church. □ A clergyman read the liturgy from the prayer-book. □ …the many similarities in ministry, liturgy and style between the two churches.
live
➊ VERB USES
➋ ADJECTIVE USES
➊ live ◆◆◆ /l I v/ (lives , living , lived )
→ Please look at categories 14 to 16 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 VERB If someone lives in a particular place or with a particular person, their home is in that place or with that person. □ [V adv/prep] She has lived here for 10 years. □ [V adv/prep] She always said I ought to live alone. □ [V adv/prep] Where do you live? □ [V adv/prep] He still lives with his parents.
2 VERB If you say that someone lives in particular circumstances or that they live a particular kind of life, you mean that they are in those circumstances or that they have that kind of life. □ [V adv/prep] We lived quite grandly. □ [V adv/prep] We live in an age of rapid technological change. □ [V n] We can start living a normal life again now.
3 VERB If you say that someone lives for a particular thing, you mean that it is the most important thing in their life. □ [V + for ] He lived for his work.
4 VERB To live means to be alive. If someone lives to a particular age, they stay alive until they are that age. □ [V adv] He's got a terrible disease and will not live long. □ [V to-inf] He lived to be 103. □ [V + to ] Matilda was born in northern Italy in 1046 and apparently lived to a ripe old age. □ [V -ing] The blue whale is the largest living thing on the planet.
5 VERB [no cont] If people live by doing a particular activity, they get the money, food, or clothing they need by doing that activity. □ [V + by ] …the last indigenous people to live by hunting. □ [V + by ] These crimes were committed largely by professional criminals who lived by crime.
6 VERB If you live by a particular rule, belief, or ideal, you behave in the way in which it says you should behave. □ [V + by ] They live by the principle that we are here to add what we can to life.
7 → see also living
8 to live beyond your means → see means
9 to live in sin → see sin
▸ live down PHRASAL VERB If you are unable to live down a mistake, failure, or bad reputation, you are unable to make people forget about it. □ [V P n] Labour was also unable to live down its reputation as the party of high taxes. □ [V n P ] I thought I'd never live it down.
▸ live off PHRASAL VERB If you live off another person, you rely on them to provide you with money. □ [V P n] …a man who all his life had lived off his father.