infinitesimal

[ in-fin-i-tes-uh-muh l ]
/ ˌɪn fɪn ɪˈtɛs ə məl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR infinitesimal ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.
immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree.
of, relating to, or involving infinitesimals.

noun

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

Origin of infinitesimal

1645–55; < 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·i·mal·ness, noun in·fin·i·tes·i·mal·ly, adverb

Words nearby infinitesimal

infinite distance, infinite integral, infinite product, infinite regress, infinite series, infinitesimal, infinitesimal calculus, infinitival, infinitive, infinitive clause, infinitive marker

Words related to infinitesimal

microscopic, negligible, imperceptible, minuscule, insignificant, miniature, little, minute, atomic, teeny, tiny, inappreciable, inconsiderable, unnoticeable

Example sentences from the Web for infinitesimal

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

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.