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least
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As a determiner, least means the most little. As an adverb, it means used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.
Meanings of least
7 meaningsdeterminer
The most little; the smallest amount or quantity of something.
“He earns the least money in his family. Of all the sisters, she has the least patience. I can only afford to pay the least of the bills. I'm giving (the) least of all towards her present.”
adverb
Used for forming superlatives of adjectives, especially those that do not form the superlative by adding -est.
“It was the least surprising thing.”
In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others.
“to reward those who least deserve it”
“I never hid the truth, least of all from you.”
noun
philosophySomething of the smallest possible extent; an indivisible unit.
Something that is of no importance
“it is the least I can do”
“that is the least of my concerns”
adjective
The superlative of ‘little’ that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by ‘the’; a quantifier meaning smallest in amount or extent or degree
“didn't care the least bit”
“he has the least talent of anyone”
Superlative degree of little; smallest
prepositional phrase
informalnonstandardAt least.
Meanings from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Open English WordNet (CC BY 4.0).