few

Từ điển Oxford Advanced Learner 8th

few [few fewer fewest] determiner, adjective, pronoun BrE [fjuː] NAmE [fjuː]
determiner, adjective (fewer, few·est)
1. used with plural nouns and a plural verb to mean ‘not many’
• Few people understand the difference.
• There seem to be fewer tourists around this year.
•Very few students learn Latin now.
2. (usually a few)used with plural nouns and a plural verb to mean ‘a small number’, ‘some’
• We've had a few replies.
• I need a few things from the store.
•Quite a few people are going to arrive early.
•I try to visit my parents every few weeks.

Word Origin:
Old English fēawe, fēawa, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fao, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin paucus and Greek pauros ‘small’.
Idioms: ↑few and far between ▪ ↑have had a few ▪ ↑quite a few
 
pronoun
1. not many people, things or places
• Very few of his books are worth reading.
• You can pass with as few as 25 points.
• (formal)Few will argue with this conclusion.
2. a fewa small number of people, things or places; some
• I recognized a few of the other people.
• I've seen most of his movies. Only a few are as good as his first one.
•Could you give me a few more details?
3. fewernot as many as
• Fewer than 20 students passed all the exams.
• There are no fewer than 100 different species in the area.  Look at the note at less.
4. the fewused with a plural verb to mean ‘a small group of people’
•Real power belongs to the few.
•She was one of the chosen few (= the small group with special rights).

Word Origin:
Old English fēawe, fēawa, of Germanic origin; related to Old High German fao, from an Indo-European root shared by Latin paucus and Greek pauros ‘small’.
 
See also: ↑good few