infinitesimal

Noun · Adjective
US[in-fih-nih-tes-ih-muhl]/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/6 syllables
Synonyms: minute

Open English WordNet

Noun (1)

  1. (mathematics) a variable that has zero as its limitType of variable, variable quantity

Adjective (1)

  1. infinitely or immeasurably small“two minute whiplike threads of protoplasm”“reduced to a minute scale”Synonyms: minuteOpposite large, bigSimilar small, little
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onerousadjective

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Webster's Dictionary (1913)

In′fin·i·tes′i·mal adjective

Origin: Cf. F. infinitésimal, fr. infinitésime infinitely small, fr. L. infinitus. See Infinite, adjective

Infinitely or indefinitely small; less than any assignable quantity or value; very small.

Infinitesimal calculus, the different and the integral calculus, when developed according to the method used by Leibnitz, who regarded the increments given to variables as infinitesimal.

In′fin·i·tes′i·mal noun

Mathematics An infinitely small quantity; that which is less than any assignable quantity.

Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54

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