noun
iota
eye-OH-tuh
Iota (noun) means the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. Example: “Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.”
noun
1
The ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.
"As a Greek numeral, iota represents ten."
"Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek."
"There are twelve iotas on that page."
2
A very tiny amount; the smallest bit of something.
"There isn't an iota of truth in that rumor."
How to use iota
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA microscopic amount — used mostly in the phrase "not one iota."
Common pairings
not one iota
not an iota of
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Word forms
- Plural
- iotas
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_____ is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.
Etymology
From Greek iota, the name of the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet — used figuratively for centuries to mean "the tiniest amount," echoing a line from the New Testament about not changing "one iota" of the law.
Related words
Rhymes for iota
See all rhymes for iota →Frequently asked questions
What does “iota” mean?
The word “iota” means the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet. In plain terms, a microscopic amount — used mostly in the phrase "not one iota.".
How do you pronounce “iota”?
“Iota” is pronounced eye-OH-tuh (/aɪˈoʊtə/ in IPA).
How do you use “iota” in a sentence?
Here is “iota” used in a sentence: “Iota is written as a simple vertical stroke in Greek.”
What part of speech is “iota”?
“Iota” is a noun.
Where does the word “iota” come from?
The word “iota” comes from Greek. From Greek iota, the name of the smallest letter in the Greek alphabet — used figuratively for centuries to mean "the tiniest amount," echoing a line from the New Testament about not changing "one iota" of the law.
How many meanings does “iota” have?
“Iota” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet.
