infinitesimal

[ in-fin-i-tes-uh-muhl ]

See synonyms for: infinitesimal infinitesimals infinitesimalness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

exceedingly small; minute: Capillaries, the infinitesimal vessels in our circulatory system, are small enough that red blood cells must flow through them single-file.
Mathematics.
- immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity:An infinitesimal number is never zero, but it comes pretty close.
- of, relating to, or involving variables having zero as a limit:infinitesimal calculus.

noun

an infinitesimal quantity.
Mathematics. a variable having zero as a limit.

Origin of infinitesimal

First recorded in 1645–55; from New Latin infīnītēsim(us), equivalent to Latin infīnīt(us) infinite + -ēsimus suffix of ordinal numerals + -al¹

Other words from infinitesimal

in·fin·i·tes·i·mal·i·ty [in-fin-i-tes-uh-mal-i-tee], /ˌɪn fɪn ɪˌtɛs əˈmæl ɪ ti/, in·fin·i·tes·i·mal·ness, noun
in·fin·i·tes·i·mal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use infinitesimal in a sentence

It has 32 members—and 16 of them come from the infinitesimally tiny portion of the planet that makes its living in high finance.
The Next Step in the Divestment Fight: Bill McKibben | Bill McKibben | September 21, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
He must have been infinitesimally small; but that did not matter.
Mystic London: | Charles Maurice Davies
One hesitates to advance; a feeling comes over you that you are become infinitesimally small and as easy to crush as an insect.
Egypt (La Mort De Philae) | Pierre Loti
We shall lose to a certain degree, but infinitesimally as compared with France.
Lord Lyons: A Record of British Diplomacy | Thomas Wodehouse Legh Newton
By virtue of free will, they deviate infinitesimally from the perpendicular in their fall, and so clash against one another.
A Critical History of Greek Philosophy | W. T. Stace

Lastly comes the actual painting, with infinitesimally small brushes, each stroke made under a powerful magnifying glass.
The Harmsworth Magazine, v. 1, 1898-1899, No. 2 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for infinitesimal

infinitesimal

/ (ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl) /

adjective

infinitely or immeasurably small
maths of, relating to, or involving a small change in the value of a variable that approaches zero as a limit

noun

maths an infinitesimal quantity

Derived forms of infinitesimal

infinitesimally, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for infinitesimal

infinitesimal

[ ĭn′fĭn-ĭ-tĕs′ə-məl ]

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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