lesser
UK ['les.ər] US [-ɚ] adjective [before noun]
■used to describe something that is not as great in size, amount or importance as something else 较小的，较少的；次要的•A lesser man (= a man who was not as strong or brave) might have given up at that point.那时候稍微软弱一点的人就可能会放弃。 •The charge of murder was altered to the lesser (= less serious) charge of manslaughter.谋杀的指控被改成了较轻的过失杀人的罪名。 •Ethiopia and, to a lesser extent/degree , Kenya will be badly affected by the drought.衣索比亚将受到干旱的严重影响，其次是肯亚。
UK ['les.ər] US [-ɚ] noun
the lesser of two evils
■the less unpleasant of two choices, neither of which are good 两害相权之轻者•But allowing a criminal to go free is perhaps the lesser of two evils if the alternative is imprisoning an innocent person.放走一个罪犯也许比把一个无辜者关进监狱要好一些。 |