Difference between Few and A Few

FEW vs A FEW: NOUN

An indefinite but relatively small number
An indefinitely small number of persons or things.
An exclusive or limited number.
Not many; only a small number (of persons or things): in this use properly an adjective, used elliptically as a plural noun, and not preceded by the article.
A small number; a minority: in this sense preceded by the article a (originally in the plural) or the, with or without a noun following, the noun, if used, expressing the whole of which the few are taken, and being in the partitive genitive, with or without the preposition of: as, a few, or a few members, or a few of the members, dissented.
A small quantity or portion; a little: followed by a noun (without of) in a construction similar to def. 2 and to that of little, n.
See II., 3.
Adv. phr. Somewhat; to some slight extent: often used ironically for a good deal.
A small elite group

Amounting to or consisting of a small number.
Being more than one but indefinitely small in number.
Not many; small, limited, or confined in number; -- indicating a small portion of units or individuals constituting a whole; often, by ellipsis of a noun, a few people.
A small number.
In a few words; briefly.
Not few; more than a few; many.
The minority; -- opposed to the many or the majority.
A quantifier that can be used with count nouns and is often preceded by `a'; a small but indefinite number

Not many; a small number; only a small number.
A small but indefinite number
(determiner) An indefinite, but usually small, number of.
(determiner) Not many; a small (in comparison with another number stated or implied) but somewhat indefinite number of.
(determiner) (US?) Obscuring one eighth to two eighths of the sky.
(determiner) (US?) Having a 10 percent chance of measurable precipitation (0.01 inch); used interchangeably with isolated.

Little, Number, Various, Recent, Past, Numerous, Five, Many, Some, Handful, Several, Couple, Hardly a, A few, A couple of

Little, Number, Various, Recent, Past, Numerous, Five, Many, Some, Handful, Several, Couple, Hardly a, A few, A couple of

Do you plan to stay for a few months at a time, for a few years or for the rest of your life?
This works for whatever amount of text is selected: a few words, a few paragraphs, or several pages of text.
There can be various reasons to leave from work a few hours early or arrive at office a few hours late in the morning.
You can usually earn a few hundred dollars doing a home inspection over a few hours.
Since that time, I have had continual monthly groups, with people staying anywhere from a few months to a few years.
Very few will ever enjoy this experience, make sure you are one of these very select few.
The period of sleep may be a few seconds with awakening or a few minutes.
This training can last for a few days to a few months.
However, for most FPs it is a few seconds to a few minutes.
You can leave your luggage for a few hours to a few days.

This works for whatever amount of text is selected: a few words, a few paragraphs, or several pages of text.
There can be various reasons to leave from work a few hours early or arrive at office a few hours late in the morning.
This is one of only a few Lure Lure homes with just a few steps down to the lake!
You can usually earn a few hundred dollars doing a home inspection over a few hours.
Since that time, I have had continual monthly groups, with people staying anywhere from a few months to a few years.
The period of sleep may be a few seconds with awakening or a few minutes.
This training can last for a few days to a few months.
This stage can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
You can leave your luggage for a few hours to a few days.
However, for most FPs it is a few seconds to a few minutes.