Infinitesimal Meaning
/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/Definition, CEFR level C2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjIncalculably, exceedingly, or immeasurably minute; vanishingly small.
adjOf or pertaining to non-zero quantities whose magnitude is less than any positive rational number.
Sentence Examples
My love for you is infinitesimal.
We were only given infinitesimal doses.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The amount of dust on the microscope slide was ____, barely visible even under high magnification.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The difference between the two chemical samples was ____ and could only be seen with a lab test.
Word Origin & History
From New Latin īnfīnītēsimus + -al. Displaced earlier coordinate term fluxion.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
""You will conceive a bunch of grapes," said he, "which are covered by some infinitesimal but noxious bacillus.""
— 1913, Arthur Conan Doyle, “(please specify the page)”, in The Poison Belt […], London; New York, N.Y.: Hodder and Stoughton, →OCLC:
"Then you could say that the doorway exploded. But the particular verb doesn't do the action justice. Rather, it shattered into infinitesimal pieces."
— 2001, Eoin Colfer, Artemis Fowl, page 221:
"It occurred to the hearer, who was accustomed to glean much of his knowledge from the infinitesimals of tone, that there was a spice of "It is my duty and I will" in this praiseworthy resolve which fell short of the ecstatic resolution of the Saturday Nora."
— 1934, Ernest Bramah, The Bravo of London:
Explore More C2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The amount of dust on the microscope slide was ____, barely visible even under high magnification.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The difference between the two chemical samples was ____ and could only be seen with a lab test.