tiny
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.extremely small in size or amount.
adj.extremely small; diminutive in scale or quantity.
Simple“The baby had tiny fingers that curled around my hand.”
In context“The biologist spent hours examining the tiny organisms under a microscope to identify the specific strain of bacteria.”
UsageAs a gradable adjective, it is frequently modified by 'absolutely' or 'so' rather than 'very', as the word itself implies an extreme.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very young child or baby.
n.a small child or infant; often used in the plural 'tinies' to refer to a group of very young children.
Simple“The nursery school has a separate play area for the tinies.”
In context“The community centre organised a morning session specifically for the tinies, providing soft play equipment and sensory toys.”
UsageUsually used in the plural form in educational or childcare contexts.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
n.a name given to someone, often ironically if they are actually very large.
n.a common nickname, frequently applied ironically to individuals of exceptionally large stature.
Simple“Everyone at the gym calls the six-foot-tall weightlifter Tiny.”
In context“In a classic display of ironic naming, the largest man in the village was known to everyone simply as Tiny.”
Teacher's tipExplain to students that calling a large person 'Tiny' is a common form of English irony.
Usage tiny little · tiny amount · tiny spaces