Words / C2

ig-ZIG-yoo-uh-s/ɪɡˈzɪɡjuəs/

Exiguous means very small in amount; scanty (formal): an exiguous salary, exiguous evidence. Small (already in the dictionary) is everyday little; scarce (already in the dictionary) is hard to find, and paucity (already in the dictionary) is too little of something. Dearth (this batch) is a scarcity. Copious and capacious (already in the dictionary) are a great deal, and roomy — the opposite flavour. A tiny n is still a number; a blank cell is none.

Meaning

Very small in amount; scanty (formal).

Examples

• “An exiguous n is still a number; a blank cell is none.”
• “Small is everyday (already in A1). Scarce is hard to find (already in C1). Paucity is too little (already in C2). Dearth is a shortage (this batch). Copious is a great deal (already in C2). Capacious is roomy (already in C2) — the contrast. A short methods line can still be complete. An empty cell is not a small gap; it is none. Write the number or write that it is missing.”

Good to know

Very small in amount (formal). Everyday: small (already in this dictionary). Close: scarce (already in C1); paucity (already in C2). This batch: dearth. Contrast: copious / capacious (already in C2). Tiny ≠ blank.

Near in meaning

scanty, meagre, sparse, slight

New