Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - less

~1 adv 1 not so much; to a smaller degree  (I found the second half of the play less interesting than the first. | We go to Paris less frequently now. | You ought to smoke less.)  (- opposite more1 (1)) 2 less and less gradually becoming smaller in amount or degree  (Our trips became less and less frequent.) 3 much/still less formal certainly not  (They did not intend even to tell the authorities about the experiments, still less seek their approval.) ~2 determiner, pronoun 1 a) not as much  (You ought to eat less salt. | Most of the workers were paid -5 per day, but some received even less. | Give him less of the medicine if it seems to upset him. | a distance of less than 100 metres) b) used to mean fewer or not as many, but often considered incorrect in this meaning  (There were less people there than we expected.) 2 no less than used when you are giving a number, to emphasize that it is surprisingly large  (The book has been translated into no less than 40 languages.) 3 less than helpful/perfect etc not at all helpful, perfect etc  (Doctors have been less than successful in treating this condition.) 4 in less than no time very quickly or very soon  (The debts increased alarmingly, and in less than no time they found that they owed over $10,000.) 5 nothing less than used to emphasize how important or serious something really is  (His appearance in the show was nothing less than a sensation.) 6 no less used to emphasize that the person or thing you are talking about is very important  (The building was opened by no less a person than the Prince of Wales. | His case is supported by the Police Complaints Committee no less.) 7 less of spoken used to tell someone, usually a child, to stop doing something  (Less of that noise, please!) 8 not ... any the less just as much  (I know he's done a dreadful thing, but I don't love him any the less.) ~3 prep taking away or not counting a particular amount  (What is 121 less 36? | He gave us our money back less the $2 service charge.)