least

1. a. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; most unimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Source: opted

2. adv. In the smallest or lowest degree; in a degree below all others; as, to reward those who least deserve it. Source: opted

3. conj. See Lest, conj. Source: opted

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 Source: wordnet

5. n. something that is of no importance Source: wordnet

6. adv. used to form the superlative, smallest in size or degree Source: wordnet

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. Source: webster

8. Smallest, either in size or degree; shortest; lowest; mostunimportant; as, the least insect; the least mercy; the least space. Source: adambom

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 Source: ecdict

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