The word "minute," when used to mean "small," is spelled exactly the same as the word for a unit of time (60 seconds). The difference is in pronunciation and meaning, not spelling. For the meaning "small," "minute" is pronounced as "my-NOOT" and is an adjective meaning tiny, extremely small, or insignificant. For example, one might say "minute details" to describe very small or fine details. To summarize:
- Spelling for "small": minute
- Pronunciation for "small": my-NOOT
- Meaning: very small, tiny, or insignificant
So, "minute" is the correct spelling for small in English, with the pronunciation change distinguishing it from the time unit.