Thesaurus: least

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Definitions

1. a. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space.
2. adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it.
3. conj. See Lest, conj.
4. adj. 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
5. n. something that is of no importance
6. adv. used to form the superlative, smallest in size or degree
7. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Note: Least is often used with the, as if a noun. I am the least of the apostles. 1 Cor. xv. 9. At least, or At the least, at the least estimate, consideration, chance, etc.; hence, at any rate; at all events; even. See However. He who tempts, though in vain, at least asperses The tempted with dishonor. Milton. Upon the mast they saw a young man, at least if he were a man, who sat as on horseback. Sir P. Sidney. -- In least, or In the least, in the least degree, manner, etc. "He that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much." Luke xvi. 10. -- Least squares (Math.), a method of deducing from a number of carefully made yet slightly discordant observations of a phenomenon the most probable values of the unknown quantities. Note: It takes as its fundamental principle that the most probable values are those which make the sum of the squares of the residual errors of the observation a minimum. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it. See Lest, conj. [Obs.] Spenser.
8. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; mostunimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space.
9. r:96/d:4 n. something that is of no importance a. 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 r. used to form the superlative