epsilon

[ ep-suh-lon, -luhn or, especially British, ep-sahy-luhn ]

noun
  1. the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (E, ε).

  2. the consonant sound represented by this letter.

  1. Mathematics. an arbitrarily small quantity, used to indicate that a given quantity is small, or close to zero.

Origin of epsilon

1
First recorded in 1400–50; from Greek e psīlón “bare, simple e” (as opposed to diphthongal spellings which in later Greek represented the same sound)

Words Nearby epsilon

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use epsilon in a sentence

  • A few meager drops of rain, sibilantly soaking into the eager soil of epsilon-Terra.

    Attrition | Jim Wannamaker
  • Next look at epsilon (ε), and you will find near it two seventh-magnitude companions, making a beautiful little triangle.

    Astronomy with an Opera-glass | Garrett Putman Serviss
  • Now direct your glass to the northernmost of the two little stars near Vega, the one marked epsilon (ε) in the map.

    Astronomy with an Opera-glass | Garrett Putman Serviss
  • Turn your glass upon the star shown in the map just above Mu (μ) and epsilon (ε).

    Astronomy with an Opera-glass | Garrett Putman Serviss
  • The fact still remains that epsilon had better be habitable or Pan-Asia will scream we're hogging it.

    Competition | James Causey

British Dictionary definitions for epsilon (1 of 2)

epsilon

/ (ˈɛpsɪˌlɒn, ɛpˈsaɪlən) /


noun
  1. the fifth letter of the Greek alphabet (Ε, ε), a short vowel, transliterated as e

Origin of epsilon

1
Greek e psilon, literally: simple e

British Dictionary definitions for Epsilon (2 of 2)

Epsilon

/ (ˈɛpsɪˌlɒn, ɛpˈsaɪlən) /


noun
  1. (foll by the genitive case of a specified constellation) the fifth brightest star in a constellation: Epsilon Aurigae

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012