less

less, lesser

• i received less pay than he.
  我收的薪金比他少。
• i want less sugar for my coffee.
  我的咖啡要加少些糖。
• these days，i eat less rice than i used to.
  近来我吃饭比以前少。

• i prefer a lesser amount of meat.
  我选择较少量的肉食。
• rice and wheat are two staple foods in china．in the north，rice is the lesser of the two.
  米和小麦是中国的两种主要食粮。在北方，米较小麦为次要。

形容词 less:

1. (comparative of `little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree
2. (usually preceded by `no') lower in quality
3. (nonstandard in some uses but often idiomatic with measure phrases) fewer

副词 less:

1. used to form the comparative of some adjectives and adverbs
   同义词：to a lesser extent
2. comparative of little

1. It rains less in London than in Manchester.
   伦敦的降雨量比曼彻斯特少。
2. He is less tall than she is.
   他不如她高。
3. Work more and dream less, you will be much happier.
   多做事少空想，这样你会愉快得多。

less

adj.（形容词）
little的比较级
Not as great in amount or quantity:
（数量上）较少的：在数或量上不大的：
例句：
had less time to spend with the family.
有较少时间和家人在一起

Lower in importance, esteem, or rank:
较不重要的，较差的，身份较低的：重要性、名声或级别较低的：
例句：
no less a person than the ambassador.
地位不比大使低的人

Consisting of a smaller number.See Usage Note at few
由少数组成的参见 few
prep.（介词）
With the deduction of; minus:
差；减去：
例句：
Five less two is three.
5减2等于3

adv.（副词）
little的比较级形式
To a smaller extent, degree, or frequency:
较少地：范围、程度或频率更小地：
例句：
less happy; less expensive.
不那么高兴的；较便宜的

n.（名词）
A smaller amount:
较小数：
例句：
She received less than she asked for.
她得到的比她要求的少

Something not as important as something else:
较次要的东西：
例句：
People have been punished for less.
人们因小事而受到惩罚

<习惯用语>less than
Not at all:
根本不：
例句：
He had a less than favorable view of the matter.
他对那种事情根本不抱好感

much less 或
still less
Certainly not:
更何况：
例句：
I`m not blaming anyone, much less you.
我根本就没有责怪任何人，更不用说你了

来源：
Middle English lesse
中古英语 lesse
from Old English lôssa [adj.]
源自 古英语 lôssa [形容词]
lôs [adv.] * see leis- 2
lôs [副词] *参见 leis- 2