io·ta \īˈōd.ə, -ōtə, in sense 1 sometimes ēˈō-\noun (-s) Etymology: Latin iota, jota, from Greek iōta — more at jot 1.: the ninth and smallest letter of the Greek alphabet — symbol I or ι; see alphabet table 2.: an infinitesimal amount : a very small degree : jot < of statesmanship he had not an iota — S.H.Adams > < he had used a lance … nicely, to extract the last iota of pain — F.V.W.Mason >