Dictionary
Thesaurus
Encyclopedia
Translator
Web
Related Searches
Synonyms
Nearby Words

INFINITESIMALLY

 - 4 dictionary results

in⋅fin⋅i⋅tes⋅i⋅mal

  [in-fin-i-tes-uh-muhl]
Use INFINITESIMALLY in a Sentence
–adjective
1. indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.
2. immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree.
3. of, pertaining to, or involving infinitesimals.
–noun
4. an infinitesimal quantity.
5. Mathematics. a variable having zero as a limit.
Origin:
1645–55; < NL infīnītēsim(us), equiv. to L infīnīt(us) infinite + -ēsimus suffix of ordinal numerals + -al 1

Related forms:
in⋅fin⋅i⋅tes⋅i⋅mal⋅i⋅ty, in⋅fin⋅i⋅tes⋅i⋅mal⋅ness, noun
in⋅fin⋅i⋅tes⋅i⋅mal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To INFINITESIMALLY
in·fin·i·tes·i·mal   (ĭn'fĭn-ĭ-těs'ə-məl)   
adj.  

  1. Immeasurably or incalculably minute.

  2. Mathematics Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit.

n.  

  1. An immeasurably or incalculably minute amount or quantity.

  2. Mathematics A function or variable continuously approaching zero as a limit.


[From New Latin īnfīnītēsimus, infinite in rank, from Latin īnfīnītus, infinite; see infinite.]
in'fin·i·tes'i·mal·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

infinitesimal  (adj.)
1710, "infinitely small," from Mod.L. infinitesimus, coined by Ger. philosopher and mathematician Baron Gottfried Wilhelm von Leibniz (1646-1716) from L. infinitus "infinite" (see infinite) + -esimus, as in centesimus "hundredth."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
Science Dictionary
infinitesimal   (ĭn'fĭn-ĭ-těs'ə-məl)  Pronunciation Key 
Adjective   Capable of having values approaching zero as a limit.

Noun   A function or variable continuously approaching zero as a limit.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Search another word or see INFINITESIMALLY on Thesaurus | Reference
FacebookTwitterFollow us:
Partner Sites:
Ask AnswersEviteExpediaHotelsHotwireLife123LiveDailyMy Way