least
n.n. the smallest amount or degree of something. You use it when comparing three or more things to show which one is the smallest.
n. the smallest in amount, extent, or significance among a group of three or more. Often functions as the superlative form of 'little'.
This is the least expensive phone in the shop.
Even the least bit of noise makes it difficult for her to concentrate on her work.
While many factors contributed to the failure of the negotiations, the lack of time was perhaps the least significant of their concerns.
The adjective, determiner, and noun are derived from Middle English leste, lest, last (“(adjective) smallest, least; (noun) smallest thing, etc.; person or thing least in importance; etc.”), from Old English lǣst, a contraction of læsast, læsest (“least”) (also lærest in only one source), from Proto-Germanic laisistaz (“smallest, least”), from laisiz (“less”) (possibly from Proto-Indo-European leh₂is- or leh₃is-; whence modern English less) + *-istaz (“suffix forming superlative forms of some adjectives”). The adverb and pronoun are derived from the adjective or determiner. cognates * Old Frisian leist * Old Saxon lēs
Contraction of at least.
Typically precedes a noun or an adjective to indicate the lowest degree; often follows the definite article 'the'.
He is the less tall in the class.He is the least tall in the class.Use 'least' for superlatives (comparing three or more); 'less' is for comparatives (comparing two).