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infinitesimal
/ˌɪnfɪnɪˈtɛsɪməl/
This word is most commonly used as an adjective to describe things that are incredibly small. It is more formal than words like 'tiny' or 'minuscule'. When used as a noun, it is almost exclusively found in mathematics and science, specifically when discussing calculus or limits.
💬Trò chuyện
🎬Tuesday afternoon, David is staring at a spreadsheet while Brian is in the server room.
David Smith
The budget gap is infinitesimal. Just fudge the numbers and call it a day.
Brian
Not my job to cook the books, Dave. Fix it yourself.
💡
David uses 'infinitesimal' to argue that a tiny financial discrepancy is negligible and can be ignored. Brian responds with the idiom 'cook the books', meaning to manipulate financial records illegally or dishonestly, highlighting his refusal to participate in David's corporate shortcuts.