less

1. DET You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use "a little," "a lot," "a bit," "far," and "much" in front of less. 較少的; 更少的

People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease. 人們應該少喫脂肪以減少患心髒病的風險。

...a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines. …一台比老式機器用水用電更少的洗碗機。

2. PRON Less is also a pronoun. 較少

Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and saving more. 借款者都在努力通過少花多存來緩解經濟緊張狀況。

3. QUANT Less is also a quantifier. 較少

Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies. 去年，投入到高科技公司的錢較少。

4. PHRASE You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this. 少於

...a country whose entire population is less than 12 million. …一個縂人口少於1200萬的國家。

5. ADV You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual. 比…少地

I often think about those less fortunate than me. 我經常想到那些不如我幸運的人。

Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room. 其他不常有的便利設施包括一個圖書館和健身房。

6. ADV If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first. 不像…更像…

At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp. 第一眼看上去它不像一座首都城市倒更像一個採鑛工地。

7. ADV If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often. 更少地[ADV with v]

We are eating more and exercising less. 我們喫得更多，鍛鍊得卻更少。

8. PREP When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned. 減去

You will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax. 你要付稅後的10%到25%。

9. PHRASE You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect, you mean that it is not perfect at all. 根本不[強調]

Her greeting was less than enthusiastic. 她打招呼根本不熱情。

10. couldn't care less→see care

11. more or less→see more