small [smɔːl]
adjective
smaller (comparative)smallest (superlative)1 (not big) [+object, building, room, animal, group] pequeño; chico; (LAm) (in height) bajo; pequeño; chaparro; (LAm) [+family, population] pequeño; poco numeroso; [+audience] reducido; poco numeroso; [+stock, supply] reducido; escaso; [+waist] estrecho; [+clothes] de talla pequeña; [+meal] ligero; [+coal] menudo
the dress is too small for her el vestido le viene pequeño or chico; the smaller of the two el menor (de los dos); with a small "e" con "e" minúscula
to have a small appetite no ser de mucho comer; comer poco
to become or get or grow smaller [+income, difficulties, supply, population, amount] disminuir; reducirse; [+object] hacerse más pequeño
mobile phones are getting smaller los teléfonos móviles son cada vez más pequeños
to break/cut sth up small romper algo en trozos pequeños/cortar algo en trocitos
to get or grow smalleruntil the small hours hasta altas horas de la noche
to be small in size [+country] ser pequeño; [+animal, object] ser de pequeño tamaño; [+room] ser de dimensiones reducidas
in small letters en minúsculas
this house makes the other one look small esta casa hace que la otra se quede pequeña
to make o.s. small achicarse
to make sth smaller [+income, difficulties, supply, population, amount] reducir algo; [+object, garment] reducir algo de tamaño; hacer algo más pequeño
the smallest room el excusado
to be small beer or small potatoes (US) ser poca cosa
it was small beer compared to the money he was getting before no era nada or era poca cosa comparado con lo que ganaba antes
2 (minor) [+problem, mistake, job, task] pequeño; de poca importancia; [+contribution] pequeño; [+difference, change, increase, improvement] pequeño; ligero
to start in a small way empezar desde abajo
3 (inconsequential)
to feel small sentirse insignificante
to make sb look small rebajar a algn
she said in a small voice dijo con un hilo de voz
4 (young) [+child, baby] pequeño; chico; especially (LAm)
when we were small cuando éramos pequeños or chicos
adverb
don't think too small piensa más a lo grande
try not to write so small intenta no escribir con una letra tan pequeña
modifier
small ad (n) (Britain) anuncio (m) por palabras
small arms (n) armas (f) ligeras de bajo calibre
small business (n) pequeña empresa (f)
the small businessman (n) el pequeño empresario
small capitals (n) (Tip) (also small caps) versalitas (f)
small change (n) suelto (m); cambio (m); calderilla (f); sencillo (m); (LAm) feria (f) (informal); (Méx)
small claims court (n) tribunal (m) de instancia que se ocupa de asuntos menores; (que se ocupa de asuntos menores)
small end (n) (Aut) pie (m) de biela
small fry (n)
to be small fry ser de poca monta
small intestine (n) intestino (m) delgado
small investor (n) pequeñoapequeña inversionista (m);a pequeña
small print (n) letra (f) menuda
small screen (n) pequeña pantalla (f); pantalla (f) chica; (LAm)
small talk (n) charla (f); charloteo (informal) (m)
to make small talk charlar; charlotear (informal)
Pequeño usually follows the noun when making implicit or explicit comparison with something bigger:
He picked out a small melon Escogió un melón pequeño
At that time, Madrid was a small city En aquella época Madrid era una ciudad pequeña
When used more subjectively with no attempt at comparison, pequeño usually precedes the noun:
But there's one small problem ... Pero existe un pequeño problema ...
She lives in the little village of La Granada Vive en el pequeño pueblo de La Granada