Small talk

Small talk
Small Small (sm[add]l), a. [Compar. {Smaller}; superl. {Smallest}.] [OE. small, AS. sm[ae]l; akin to D. smal narrow, OS. & OHG. smal small, G. schmal narrow, Dan. & Sw. smal, Goth. smals small, Icel. smali smal cattle, sheep, or goats; cf. Gr. mh^lon a sheep or goat.] 1. Having little size, compared with other things of the same kind; little in quantity or degree; diminutive; not large or extended in dimension; not great; not much; inconsiderable; as, a small man; a small river. [1913 Webster]

To compare Great things with small. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

2. Being of slight consequence; feeble in influence or importance; unimportant; trivial; insignificant; as, a small fault; a small business. [1913 Webster]

3. Envincing little worth or ability; not large-minded; -- sometimes, in reproach, paltry; mean. [1913 Webster]

A true delineation of the smallest man is capable of interesting the greatest man. --Carlyle. [1913 Webster]

4. Not prolonged in duration; not extended in time; short; as, after a small space. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

5. Weak; slender; fine; gentle; soft; not loud. ``A still, small voice.'' --1 Kings xix. 12. [1913 Webster]

{Great and small},of all ranks or degrees; -- used especially of persons. ``His quests, great and small.'' --Chaucer.

{Small arms}, muskets, rifles, pistols, etc., in distinction from cannon.

{Small beer}. See under {Beer}.

{Small coal}. (a) Little coals of wood formerly used to light fires. --Gay. (b) Coal about the size of a hazelnut, separated from the coarser parts by screening.

{Small craft} (Naut.), a vessel, or vessels in general, of a small size.

{Small fruits}. See under {Fruit}.

{Small hand}, a certain size of paper. See under {Paper}.

{Small hours}. See under {Hour}.

{Small letter}. (Print.), a lower-case letter. See {Lower-case}, and {Capital letter}, under {Capital}, a.

{Small piece}, a Scotch coin worth about 21/4d. sterling, or about 41/2cents.

{Small register}. See the Note under 1st {Register}, 7.

{Small stuff} (Naut.), spun yarn, marline, and the smallest kinds of rope. --R. H. Dana, Jr.

{Small talk}, light or trifling conversation; chitchat.

{Small wares} (Com.), various small textile articles, as tapes, braid, tringe, and the like. --M`Culloch. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Small Talk — Small Talk …   Deutsch Wörterbuch

  • Small talk — is conversation for its own sake; the ability to conduct small talk is a social skill.Small talk is sometimes referred to as phatic communication , a term coined by Bronisław Malinowski in 1923.Small talk, Small Talk or Smalltalk may also… …   Wikipedia

  • Small Talk — Small Talk, der, auch: das; s, s, Small|talk, der, auch: das; s, s [engl. small talk, zu: talk = Gespräch, Unterhaltung] (bildungsspr.): leichte, beiläufige Konversation: der übliche S. T. auf Partys war ihm zuwider. * * * Smalltalk [ smɔ:l tɔ:k] …   Universal-Lexikon

  • small talk — UK US noun [U] ► polite conversation about things that are not important, often between people who are meeting for the first time: »I soon learned how to make small talk with people at formal receptions …   Financial and business terms

  • small talk — n [U] polite friendly conversation about unimportant subjects ▪ We stood around making small talk …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • small talk — small′ talk n. light conversation; chitchat • Etymology: 1745–55 small′ talk , v.i …   From formal English to slang

  • small talk — talk about unimportant topics the weather etc.    Winnie is good at making small talk with strangers …   English idioms

  • small talk — [n] casual conversation babble, blab*, blather, chatter, chitchat*, gossip, idle chatter, idle talk, jabber*, prattle, yakking*; concepts 274,278 …   New thesaurus

  • small talk — small ,talk noun uncount informal conversation about things that are not important …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • small talk — ► NOUN ▪ polite conversation about trivial or uncontroversial matters …   English terms dictionary

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