Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - lesser

~ adj only before noun 1 formal not as large, as important, or as much as something else  (They originally asked for $5 million, but finally settled for a lesser sum. | to a lesser extent/degree)  (the growing influence of Tokyo, and to a lesser extent Frankfurt, as financial centers)  (- see also lesser mortals mortal2 (1)) 2 the lesser of two evils the less unpleasant or harmful of two unpleasant choices 3 lesser known not well known or not as well known as others  (a lesser known French poet) 4 used in the names of some types of animal, bird, or plant that are slightly smaller than the main type