slight Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a deliberate discourteous act (usually as an expression of anger or disapproval)
    rebuff.
  2. verb pay no attention to, disrespect
    cold-shoulder.
    • She cold-shouldered her ex-fiance
  3. adjective (quantifier used with mass nouns) small in quantity or degree; not much or almost none or (with `a') at least some
    little.
    • little rain fell in May
    • gave it little thought
    • little time is left
    • we still have little money
    • a little hope remained
    • there's slight chance that it will work
    • there's a slight chance it will work
  4. adjective satellite lacking substance or significance; a fragile claim to fame"
    flimsy; fragile; thin; tenuous.
    • slight evidence
    • a tenuous argument
    • a thin plot
  5. adjective satellite being of delicate or slender build
    svelte; slim; slender.
    • she was slender as a willow shoot is slender"- Frank Norris
    • a slim girl with straight blonde hair
    • watched her slight figure cross the street

WordNet

Slight noun
Definitions
  1. Sleight. Spenser.
Slight transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. D. slechten to level, to demolish.
Definitions
  1. To overthrow; to demolish. Obs. Clarendon.
  2. To make even or level. Obs. Hexham.
  3. To throw heedlessly. Obs.
    The rogue slighted me into the river. Shak.
Slight adjective
Etymology
OE. slit, sleght, probably from OD. slicht, slecht, simple, plain, D. slecht; akin to OFries. sliucht, G. schlecht, schlicht, OHG. sleht smooth, simple, Icel. slttr smooth, Sw. slät, Goth. slaíhts; or uncertain origin.
Wordforms
comparative Slighter ; superlative Slightest
Definitions
  1. Not decidedly marked; not forcible; inconsiderable; unimportant; insignificant; not severe; weak; gentle; -- applied in a great variety of circumstances; as, a slight (i. e., feeble) effort; a slight (i. e., perishable) structure; a slight (i. e., not deep) impression; a slight (i. e., not convincing) argument; a slight (i. e., not thorough) examination; slight (i. e., not severe) pain, and the like. "At one slight bound." Milton.
    Slight is the subject, but not so the praise. Pope.
    Some firmly embrace doctrines upon slight grounds. Locke.
  2. Not stout or heavy; slender.
    His own figure, which was formerly so slight. Sir W. Scott.
  3. Foolish; silly; weak in intellect. Hudibras.
Slight transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Slighted; present participle & verbal noun Slighting
Definitions
  1. To disregard, as of little value and unworthy of notice; to make light of; as, to slight the divine commands. Milton.
    The wretch who slights the bounty of the skies. Cowper.
    Bacon. Syn. -- To neglect; disregard; disdain; scorn. -- Slight, Neglect. To slight is stronger than to neglect. We may neglect a duty or person from inconsiderateness, or from being over-occupied in other concerns. To slight is always a positive and intentional act, resulting from feelings of dislike or contempt. We ought to put a kind construction on what appears neglect on the part of a friend; but when he slights us, it is obvious that he is our friend no longer.
    Beware . . . lest the like befall . . . If they transgress and slight that sole command. Milton.
    This my long-sufferance, and my day of grace, Those who neglect and scorn shall never taste. Milton.
Slight noun
Definitions
  1. The act of slighting; the manifestation of a moderate degree of contempt, as by neglect or oversight; neglect; indignity. Syn. -- Neglect; disregard; inattention; contempt; disdain; scorn; disgrace; indignity; disparagement.
Slight adverb
Definitions
  1. Slightly. Obs. or Poetic
    Think not so slight of glory. Milton.

Webster 1913