less

1. DET You use less to indicate that there is a smaller amount of something than before or than average. You can use "a little," "a lot," "a bit," "far," and "much" in front of less. 较少的; 更少的

People should eat less fat to reduce the risk of heart disease. 人们应该少吃脂肪以减少患心脏病的风险。

...a dishwasher that uses less water and electricity than older machines. …一台比老式机器用水用电更少的洗碗机。

2. PRON Less is also a pronoun. 较少

Borrowers are striving to ease their financial position by spending less and saving more. 借款者都在努力通过少花多存来缓解经济紧张状况。

3. QUANT Less is also a quantifier. 较少

Last year less of the money went into high-technology companies. 去年，投入到高科技公司的钱较少。

4. PHRASE You use less than before a number or amount to say that the actual number or amount is smaller than this. 少于

...a country whose entire population is less than 12 million. …一个总人口少于1200万的国家。

5. ADV You use less to indicate that something or someone has a smaller amount of a quality than they used to or than is average or usual. 比…少地

I often think about those less fortunate than me. 我经常想到那些不如我幸运的人。

Other amenities, less commonly available, include a library and exercise room. 其他不常有的便利设施包括一个图书馆和健身房。

6. ADV If you say that something is less one thing than another, you mean that it is like the second thing rather than the first. 不像…更像…

At first sight it looked less like a capital city than a mining camp. 第一眼看上去它不像一座首都城市倒更像一个采矿工地。

7. ADV If you do something less than before or less than someone else, you do it to a smaller extent or not as often. 更少地[ADV with v]

We are eating more and exercising less. 我们吃得更多，锻炼得却更少。

8. PREP When you are referring to amounts, you use less in front of a number or quantity to indicate that it is to be subtracted from another number or quantity already mentioned. 减去

You will pay between ten and twenty five percent, less tax. 你要付税后的10%到25%。

9. PHRASE You use less than to say that something does not have a particular quality. For example, if you describe something as less than perfect, you mean that it is not perfect at all. 根本不[强调]

Her greeting was less than enthusiastic. 她打招呼根本不热情。

10. couldn't care less→see care

11. more or less→see more