SLIGHT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does slight mean? 

• SLIGHT (noun)
  The noun SLIGHT has 1 sense:

1. a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

  Familiarity information: SLIGHT used as a noun is very rare.

• SLIGHT (adjective)
  The adjective SLIGHT has 3 senses:

1. (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with 'a') at least some

2. lacking substance or significance

3. being of delicate or slender build

  Familiarity information: SLIGHT used as an adjective is uncommon.

• SLIGHT (verb)
  The verb SLIGHT has 1 sense:

1. pay no attention to, disrespect

  Familiarity information: SLIGHT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLIGHT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

rebuff; slight

Hypernyms ("slight" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; offence; offense; offensive activity (a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slight"):

cold shoulder; cut; snub (a refusal to recognize someone you know)

silent treatment (an aloof refusal to speak to someone you know)

Derivation:

slight (pay no attention to, disrespect)

• SLIGHT (adjective)

Comparative: slighter   
Superlative: slightest   

Sense 1

Meaning:

(quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with 'a') at least some

Synonyms:

little; slight

Context example:

there's a slight chance it will work

Similar:

small (slight or limited; especially in degree or intensity or scope)

Also:

less ((comparative of 'little' usually used with mass nouns) a quantifier meaning not as great in amount or degree)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Lacking substance or significance

Synonyms:

flimsy; fragile; slight; tenuous; thin

Context example:

a fragile claim to fame

Similar:

insignificant; unimportant (devoid of importance, meaning, or force)

Derivation:

slightness (the quality of being unimportant and petty or frivolous)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Being of delicate or slender build

Synonyms:

slender; slight; slim; svelte

Context example:

watched her slight figure cross the street

Similar:

lean; thin (lacking excess flesh)

Derivation:

slightness (the property of an attractively thin person)

slightness (smallness of stature)

• SLIGHT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they slight    ... he / she / it slights   
Past simple: slighted   
Past participle: slighted   
-ing form: slighting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Pay no attention to, disrespect

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

cold-shoulder; slight

Context example:

She cold-shouldered her ex-fiance

Hypernyms (to "slight" is one way to...):

brush aside; brush off; discount; dismiss; disregard; ignore; push aside (bar from attention or consideration)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

slight (a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval))

 Context examples 

Emma made as slight a reply as she could; but it was fully sufficient for Mrs. Elton, who only wanted to be talking herself.

(Emma, by Jane Austen)

Both he and Johnson would have killed Wolf Larsen at the slightest opportunity, but the opportunity never came.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

But I should like to know why, at that time of his life, he should slight my father's acquaintance as he did.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

She had a slight figure, a pale, gentle face, and fair hair.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

You must not judge of him, Miss Dashwood, from YOUR slight acquaintance.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

In the meanwhile, some slight sign passed between Mr. Micawber and Traddles; and Traddles, unobserved except by me, went out.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

Class II: slight limitation of physical activity.

(New York Heart Association Class, NCI Thesaurus)

It was a slight matter in itself, but it gave me an evident chance, and I secured a few drops of the blood and have analysed them.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

A slight fever can make it harder for them to survive.

(Fever, NIH)

In the meantime you shall all be treated as my guests, and while you live in the Palace my people will wait upon you and obey your slightest wish.

(The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, by L. Frank Baum)