"lesser" meaning in English

See lesser in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Adjective

IPA: /ˈlɛsɚ/ [General-American], /ˈlɛsə/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: en-us-lesser.ogg [US]
Rhymes: -ɛsə(ɹ) Etymology: Etymology tree English less English -er English lesser From less + -er. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|less|-er|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English less English -er English lesser From less + -er. Head templates: {{en-adj|-}} lesser (not comparable)
  1. Of two (or, rarely, more than two) things: the smaller in size (littler), in value, in importance etc. Tags: not-comparable Translations (of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc): أَصْغَر (ʔaṣḡar) (Arabic), pienempi (Finnish), vähäisempi (Finnish), کوچکتر (kôčaktar) (Persian), menor (Spanish) Translations (the comparative of little): ме́ншы (mjénšy) (Belarusian), pienempi (Finnish), vähäisempi (Finnish), moindre (French), weniger (German), kleiner (German), geringere (German), लघुतर (laghutar) (Hindi), minore (Italian), کوچکتر (kôčaktar) (Persian), menor (Portuguese), ме́ньший (ménʹšij) (Russian), menor (Spanish), ме́нший (ménšyj) (Ukrainian)
    Sense id: en-lesser-en-adj-zFUWiCCT Categories (other): English terms with collocations, English entries referencing ambiguous etymons, English entries referencing missing etymons, English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, Terms with Arabic translations Disambiguation of English entries referencing ambiguous etymons: 56 44 Disambiguation of English entries referencing missing etymons: 55 45 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 55 45 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 55 45 Derived forms (Terms derived from the adjective "lesser"lesser adjutant): lesser anteater, Lesser Antilles, lesser ape, lesser arcana, lesser auk, lesser baby innocence, lesser bilby, lesser black-backed gull, Lesser Britain, lesser capybara, lesser celandine, lesser chinchilla, lesser clubmoss, lesser crested tern, lesser cuckoo, lesser evilism, lesser-evilism, lesser evilist, lesser evil, lesser of two evils, lesser extent, lesser flamingo, lesser galangal, lesser goldfinch, lesser green leafbird, lesser grey shrike, lesser hedgehog tenrec, lesser included offence, lesser included offense, lesser jacana, lesser kestrel, lesser-known, lesser kudu, lesser moa, lesser mortal, lesser multangular, lesserness, lesser nothura, lesser occipital nerve, lesser omentum, lesser petrosal nerve, lesser prairie chicken, lesser redpoll, lesser rhea, lesser roadrunner, lesser rorqual, lesser sac, lesser sandplover, lesser saphenous vein, lesser scaup, lesser seal script, lesser siren, Lesser Slave Lake, Lesser Slave River, lesser spot-nosed monkey, lesser spotted, lesser spotted eagle, lesser spotted woodpecker, Lesser Sunda Islands, Lesser Sundas, lesser trochanter, lesser vestibular glands, lesser wanderer, lesser weever, lesser whistling duck, lesser whistling teal, lesser white-fronted goose, lesser whitethroat, lesser wing, lesser yam, to a lesser extent

Adjective

IPA: /ˈlɛsɚ/ [General-American], /ˈlɛsə/ [Received-Pronunciation] Audio: en-us-lesser.ogg [US] Forms: more lesser [comparative], most lesser [superlative]
Rhymes: -ɛsə(ɹ) Etymology: Etymology tree English less English -er English lesser From less + -er. Etymology templates: {{ety|en|:af|less|-er|text=+|tree=1}} Etymology tree English less English -er English lesser From less + -er. Head templates: {{en-adjective}} lesser (comparative more lesser, superlative most lesser)
  1. (comparative or contrast) that which is of lesser size, quality, degree, or significance; of lower status, importance, or rank Related terms: less, lesser of two evils, fewer Translations (thing that is of smaller size): pienempi (Finnish), vähäisempi (Finnish)
    Sense id: en-lesser-en-adj-9BLSBEBU Categories (other): English entries with etymology texts, English entries with etymology trees, English entries with incorrect language header, English terms suffixed with -er, Entries with translation boxes, Pages using etymon with no ID, Pages with 2 entries, Pages with entries, Pages with etymology trees, Terms with Belarusian translations, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Hindi translations, Terms with Italian translations, Terms with Persian translations, Terms with Portuguese translations, Terms with Russian translations, Terms with Spanish translations, Terms with Ukrainian translations Disambiguation of English entries with etymology texts: 55 45 Disambiguation of English entries with etymology trees: 55 45 Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 39 61 Disambiguation of English terms suffixed with -er: 40 60 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 28 72 Disambiguation of Pages using etymon with no ID: 33 67 Disambiguation of Pages with 2 entries: 29 71 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 32 68 Disambiguation of Pages with etymology trees: 39 61 Disambiguation of Terms with Belarusian translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 21 79 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 23 77 Disambiguation of Terms with Hindi translations: 25 75 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 20 80 Disambiguation of Terms with Persian translations: 24 76 Disambiguation of Terms with Portuguese translations: 41 59 Disambiguation of Terms with Russian translations: 20 80 Disambiguation of Terms with Spanish translations: 20 80 Disambiguation of Terms with Ukrainian translations: 30 70

Inflected forms

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "less",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "lesser (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenations": [
    {
      "parts": [
        "less",
        "er"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "greater"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms with collocations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "56 44",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing ambiguous etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries referencing missing etymons",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Arabic translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "derived": [
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser anteater"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Antilles"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser ape"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser arcana"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser auk"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser baby innocence"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser bilby"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser black-backed gull"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Britain"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser capybara"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser celandine"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser chinchilla"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser clubmoss"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser crested tern"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser cuckoo"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser evilism"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser-evilism"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser evilist"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser evil"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser of two evils"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser extent"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser flamingo"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser galangal"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser goldfinch"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser green leafbird"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser grey shrike"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser hedgehog tenrec"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser included offence"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser included offense"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser jacana"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser kestrel"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser-known"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser kudu"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser moa"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser mortal"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser multangular"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesserness"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser nothura"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser occipital nerve"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser omentum"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser petrosal nerve"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser prairie chicken"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser redpoll"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser rhea"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser roadrunner"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser rorqual"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser sac"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser sandplover"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser saphenous vein"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser scaup"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser seal script"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser siren"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Slave Lake"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Slave River"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser spot-nosed monkey"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser spotted"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser spotted eagle"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser spotted woodpecker"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Sunda Islands"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "Lesser Sundas"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser trochanter"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser vestibular glands"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser wanderer"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser weever"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser whistling duck"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser whistling teal"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser white-fronted goose"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser whitethroat"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser wing"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "lesser yam"
        },
        {
          "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
          "word": "to a lesser extent"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              6
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "lesser panda",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              6
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "lesser yellowlegs",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of two (or, rarely, more than two) things: the smaller in size (littler), in value, in importance etc."
      ],
      "id": "en-lesser-en-adj-zFUWiCCT",
      "links": [
        [
          "two",
          "two"
        ],
        [
          "thing",
          "thing"
        ],
        [
          "smaller",
          "smaller"
        ],
        [
          "size",
          "size"
        ],
        [
          "littler",
          "littler"
        ],
        [
          "value",
          "value"
        ],
        [
          "importance",
          "importance"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "be",
          "lang": "Belarusian",
          "lang_code": "be",
          "roman": "mjénšy",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "ме́ншы"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "pienempi"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "vähäisempi"
        },
        {
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "lang_code": "fr",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "moindre"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "weniger"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "kleiner"
        },
        {
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "lang_code": "de",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "geringere"
        },
        {
          "code": "hi",
          "lang": "Hindi",
          "lang_code": "hi",
          "roman": "laghutar",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "लघुतर"
        },
        {
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "lang_code": "it",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "minore"
        },
        {
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "lang_code": "fa",
          "roman": "kôčaktar",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "کوچکتر"
        },
        {
          "code": "pt",
          "lang": "Portuguese",
          "lang_code": "pt",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "menor"
        },
        {
          "code": "ru",
          "lang": "Russian",
          "lang_code": "ru",
          "roman": "ménʹšij",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "ме́ньший"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "menor"
        },
        {
          "code": "uk",
          "lang": "Ukrainian",
          "lang_code": "uk",
          "roman": "ménšyj",
          "sense": "the comparative of little",
          "word": "ме́нший"
        },
        {
          "code": "ar",
          "lang": "Arabic",
          "lang_code": "ar",
          "roman": "ʔaṣḡar",
          "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
          "word": "أَصْغَر"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
          "word": "pienempi"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
          "word": "vähäisempi"
        },
        {
          "code": "fa",
          "lang": "Persian",
          "lang_code": "fa",
          "roman": "kôčaktar",
          "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
          "word": "کوچکتر"
        },
        {
          "code": "es",
          "lang": "Spanish",
          "lang_code": "es",
          "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
          "word": "menor"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-lesser.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg/En-us-lesser.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛsə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "lesser"
}

{
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "less",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more lesser",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most lesser",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "lesser (comparative more lesser, superlative most lesser)",
      "name": "en-adjective"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenations": [
    {
      "parts": [
        "less",
        "er"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology texts",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "55 45",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 61",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "40 60",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English terms suffixed with -er",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "28 72",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Entries with translation boxes",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "33 67",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages using etymon with no ID",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "29 71",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with 2 entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "32 68",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with entries",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "39 61",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Pages with etymology trees",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 77",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Belarusian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 77",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Finnish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "21 79",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with French translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "23 77",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with German translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 75",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Hindi translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 80",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "24 76",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Persian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "41 59",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Portuguese translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 80",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Russian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "20 80",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Spanish translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "30 70",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Ukrainian translations",
          "parents": [],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              72,
              78
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The larger Sand Hill Cranes increasingly do not migrate, but almost all lesser ones do.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Between the two men, he was clearly the lesser one.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "that which is of lesser size, quality, degree, or significance; of lower status, importance, or rank"
      ],
      "id": "en-lesser-en-adj-9BLSBEBU",
      "links": [
        [
          "comparative",
          "comparative"
        ],
        [
          "contrast",
          "contrast"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "comparative or contrast",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(comparative or contrast) that which is of lesser size, quality, degree, or significance; of lower status, importance, or rank"
      ],
      "related": [
        {
          "word": "less"
        },
        {
          "word": "lesser of two evils"
        },
        {
          "word": "fewer"
        }
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "thing that is of smaller size",
          "word": "pienempi"
        },
        {
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "lang_code": "fi",
          "sense": "thing that is of smaller size",
          "word": "vähäisempi"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-lesser.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg/En-us-lesser.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛsə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "word": "lesser"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries referencing ambiguous etymons",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms suffixed with -er",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛsə(ɹ)",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛsə(ɹ)/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Arabic translations",
    "Terms with Belarusian translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hindi translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Persian translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Ukrainian translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser anteater"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Antilles"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser ape"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser arcana"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser auk"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser baby innocence"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser bilby"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser black-backed gull"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Britain"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser capybara"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser celandine"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser chinchilla"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser clubmoss"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser crested tern"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser cuckoo"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser evilism"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser-evilism"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser evilist"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser evil"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser of two evils"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser extent"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser flamingo"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser galangal"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser goldfinch"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser green leafbird"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser grey shrike"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser hedgehog tenrec"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser included offence"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser included offense"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser jacana"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser kestrel"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser-known"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser kudu"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser moa"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser mortal"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser multangular"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesserness"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser nothura"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser occipital nerve"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser omentum"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser petrosal nerve"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser prairie chicken"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser redpoll"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser rhea"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser roadrunner"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser rorqual"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser sac"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser sandplover"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser saphenous vein"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser scaup"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser seal script"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser siren"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Slave Lake"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Slave River"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser spot-nosed monkey"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser spotted"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser spotted eagle"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser spotted woodpecker"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Sunda Islands"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "Lesser Sundas"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser trochanter"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser vestibular glands"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser wanderer"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser weever"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser whistling duck"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser whistling teal"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser white-fronted goose"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser whitethroat"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser wing"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "lesser yam"
    },
    {
      "sense": "Terms derived from the adjective \"lesser\"lesser adjutant",
      "word": "to a lesser extent"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "less",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "-"
      },
      "expansion": "lesser (not comparable)",
      "name": "en-adj"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenations": [
    {
      "parts": [
        "less",
        "er"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "senses": [
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "greater"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with collocations"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              6
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "lesser panda",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              0,
              6
            ]
          ],
          "tags": [
            "collocation"
          ],
          "text": "lesser yellowlegs",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Of two (or, rarely, more than two) things: the smaller in size (littler), in value, in importance etc."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "two",
          "two"
        ],
        [
          "thing",
          "thing"
        ],
        [
          "smaller",
          "smaller"
        ],
        [
          "size",
          "size"
        ],
        [
          "littler",
          "littler"
        ],
        [
          "value",
          "value"
        ],
        [
          "importance",
          "importance"
        ]
      ],
      "tags": [
        "not-comparable"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-lesser.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg/En-us-lesser.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛsə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "be",
      "lang": "Belarusian",
      "lang_code": "be",
      "roman": "mjénšy",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "ме́ншы"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "pienempi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "vähäisempi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "lang_code": "fr",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "moindre"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "weniger"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "kleiner"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "lang_code": "de",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "geringere"
    },
    {
      "code": "hi",
      "lang": "Hindi",
      "lang_code": "hi",
      "roman": "laghutar",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "लघुतर"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "lang_code": "it",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "minore"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "lang_code": "fa",
      "roman": "kôčaktar",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "کوچکتر"
    },
    {
      "code": "pt",
      "lang": "Portuguese",
      "lang_code": "pt",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "menor"
    },
    {
      "code": "ru",
      "lang": "Russian",
      "lang_code": "ru",
      "roman": "ménʹšij",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "ме́ньший"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "menor"
    },
    {
      "code": "uk",
      "lang": "Ukrainian",
      "lang_code": "uk",
      "roman": "ménšyj",
      "sense": "the comparative of little",
      "word": "ме́нший"
    },
    {
      "code": "ar",
      "lang": "Arabic",
      "lang_code": "ar",
      "roman": "ʔaṣḡar",
      "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
      "word": "أَصْغَر"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
      "word": "pienempi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
      "word": "vähäisempi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fa",
      "lang": "Persian",
      "lang_code": "fa",
      "roman": "kôčaktar",
      "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
      "word": "کوچکتر"
    },
    {
      "code": "es",
      "lang": "Spanish",
      "lang_code": "es",
      "sense": "of two things, the smaller in size, value, importance etc",
      "word": "menor"
    }
  ],
  "word": "lesser"
}

{
  "categories": [
    "English adjectives",
    "English entries referencing ambiguous etymons",
    "English entries referencing missing etymons",
    "English entries with etymology texts",
    "English entries with etymology trees",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English lemmas",
    "English terms suffixed with -er",
    "English uncomparable adjectives",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages using etymon with no ID",
    "Pages with 2 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Pages with etymology trees",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛsə(ɹ)",
    "Rhymes:English/ɛsə(ɹ)/2 syllables",
    "Terms with Belarusian translations",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Hindi translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations",
    "Terms with Persian translations",
    "Terms with Portuguese translations",
    "Terms with Russian translations",
    "Terms with Spanish translations",
    "Terms with Ukrainian translations"
  ],
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": ":af",
        "3": "less",
        "4": "-er",
        "text": "+",
        "tree": "1"
      },
      "expansion": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
      "name": "ety"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "Etymology tree\nEnglish less\nEnglish -er\nEnglish lesser\nFrom less + -er.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "more lesser",
      "tags": [
        "comparative"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "most lesser",
      "tags": [
        "superlative"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {},
      "expansion": "lesser (comparative more lesser, superlative most lesser)",
      "name": "en-adjective"
    }
  ],
  "hyphenations": [
    {
      "parts": [
        "less",
        "er"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "adj",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "less"
    },
    {
      "word": "lesser of two evils"
    },
    {
      "word": "fewer"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "bold_text_offsets": [
            [
              72,
              78
            ]
          ],
          "text": "The larger Sand Hill Cranes increasingly do not migrate, but almost all lesser ones do.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "Between the two men, he was clearly the lesser one.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "that which is of lesser size, quality, degree, or significance; of lower status, importance, or rank"
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "comparative",
          "comparative"
        ],
        [
          "contrast",
          "contrast"
        ]
      ],
      "qualifier": "comparative or contrast",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(comparative or contrast) that which is of lesser size, quality, degree, or significance; of lower status, importance, or rank"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsɚ/",
      "tags": [
        "General-American"
      ]
    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈlɛsə/",
      "tags": [
        "Received-Pronunciation"
      ]
    },
    {
      "audio": "en-us-lesser.ogg",
      "mp3_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/transcoded/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg/En-us-lesser.ogg.mp3",
      "ogg_url": "https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/2c/En-us-lesser.ogg",
      "tags": [
        "US"
      ]
    },
    {
      "rhymes": "-ɛsə(ɹ)"
    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "thing that is of smaller size",
      "word": "pienempi"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "lang_code": "fi",
      "sense": "thing that is of smaller size",
      "word": "vähäisempi"
    }
  ],
  "word": "lesser"
}

Download raw JSONL data for lesser meaning in English (14.9kB)

{
  "called_from": "page/2530",
  "msg": "skipping string in the middle of translations: </table></div></div>\n\n",
  "path": [
    "lesser"
  ],
  "section": "English",
  "subsection": "adjective",
  "title": "lesser",
  "trace": ""
}

This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2026-06-15 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2026-06-01 using wiktextract (03da280 and 7f4db16). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.