Small means little in size, amount, or extent. A small dog might fit in your lap, while a large dog wouldn't. A small glass of juice contains less than a large one. A small crowd has fewer people than a large crowd.

The word describes physical size (a small apartment, a small insect), quantities (a small chance of rain, a small improvement), or importance (a small detail, a small problem). When something is small, it takes up less space, contains less, or matters less than something bigger.

Size is relative, though. A small elephant is still much bigger than a large dog. A small mistake on a homework assignment might not matter much, but a small error in a rocket launch calculation could cause serious problems. Context determines whether being small is good or bad: small portions disappoint when you're hungry, but a small lump is better news than a large one.

The opposite of small is large or big. People sometimes use tiny, little, or minute (pronounced “my-NOOT”) to mean extremely small. When something seems unimportant, you might call it a small matter or say “it's no small feat” when describing something actually quite difficult or impressive.