infinitesimal

in·fin·i·tes·i·mal

Use infinitesimal in a sentence

adjective

The definition of infinitesimal is something extremely small or very close to 0, or too small to be measured.

When you have only a single grain of rice, this is an example of a time when you have an infinitesimal amount of rice.

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"infinitesimal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal>.

APA Style

infinitesimal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal

infinitesimal

too small to be measured
Math. of or pertaining to an infinitesimal

Origin of infinitesimal

Modern Latin infinitesimus from Classical Latin infinitus (see infinite), influenced, influence by centesimus, hundredth from centum, hundred

an infinitesimal quantity
Math. a variable that approaches zero as a limit

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MLA Style

"infinitesimal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal>.

APA Style

infinitesimal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal

infinitesimal

adjective

Immeasurably or incalculably minute.
Mathematics Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit.

noun

An immeasurably or incalculably minute amount or quantity.
Mathematics A function or variable continuously approaching zero as a limit.

Origin of infinitesimal

From New Latin īnfīnītēsimus infinite in rank from Latin īnfīnītus infinite ; see infinite .

Related Forms:

in′fin·i·tes′i·mal·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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MLA Style

"infinitesimal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal>.

APA Style

infinitesimal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal

Adjective

Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit.

Noun

A function or variable continuously approaching zero as a limit.

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Link to this page

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MLA Style

"infinitesimal." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 20 January 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal>.

APA Style

infinitesimal. (n.d.). Retrieved January 20th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Infinitesimal

Adjective

(comparative more infinitesimal, superlative most infinitesimal)

Incalculably, exceedingly, or immeasurably minute; vanishingly small.
Do you ever get the feeling that you are but an infinitesimal speck, swallowed by the vastness of the universe and beyond?
(mathematics) Of or pertaining to values that approach zero as a limit.
(informal) Very small.

Usage notes

Strictly, this adjective, like infinite, is incomparable, so more infinitesimal and most infinitesimal are proscribed, especially in the mathematical sense. However, these forms do occur in informal usage, where the very small (but measurable) sense is most common.

Noun

(plural infinitesimals)