scintilla
noun

- a very small amount of something

- a minute amount; hint, trace, or particle

Cambridge Dictionary / Collins Dictionary

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WORD ORIGIN

Scintilla comes directly from Latin, where it carries the meaning of "spark" — that is, a bright flash such as you might see from a burning ember. In English, however, our use of "scintilla" is restricted to the figurative sense of "spark" — a hint or trace of something that barely suggests its presence.

The Latin scintilla is related to the verb scintillare which means "to sparkle" and is responsible for our verb "scintillate" meaning "to sparkle or gleam” (literally or figuratively). 

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HOW SMALL CAN YOU GET?

1. Atom = an extremely small amount or trace of something. Suggests the smallest possible quantity.

2. Crumb = a tiny, insignificant piece or amount of something. Implies something small broken off from a larger whole.

3. Dab = a small amount of something, often applied with the fingertip. Suggests a light, delicate touch.

4. Dash = a very small amount of something added to something else. Implies a quick, brief addition.

5. Drop = an extremely small quantity or amount of liquid. Suggests a single, isolated unit.

6. Flash = a brief, momentary appearance or glimpse of something. Implies a quick, fleeting instance.

7. Hint = a slight indication or suggestion of something. Suggests a subtle, indirect reference.

8. Iota = an extremely small amount or degree of something. Implies the smallest possible unit or trace.

9. Mite = a tiny, insignificant amount or piece of something. Suggests something minuscule or negligible.

10. Modicum = a small, moderate amount of something. Implies a limited, but sufficient, quantity.

11. SCINTILLA = represents the absolute smallest, most trace quantity or degree of something. 

"Scintilla" is even smaller than an "atom", more minuscule than a "crumb", smaller than a "dab" or a "dash", less than a "drop", more fleeting than a "flash", more subtle than a "hint", even tinier than an "iota", more negligible than a "mite", and much less than a "modicum". 

In short, "scintilla" represents the absolute smallest, most infinitesimal trace-quantity or degree of something even smaller than that suggested by other common synonyms.

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SYNONYMS

ace, atom, bit, crumb, dab, dash, dram, driblet, drop, flash, glimmer, hint, iota, lick, little, mite, modicum, nip, only the slightest amount, ounce, particle, peanuts, ray, SCINTILLA, shadow, shred, smack, smidgen, smidge, spark, spec, splash, spot, sprinkling, streak, tad, tiny touch (trace)

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