[gigatexal]

Jumping in this fascinating thread about sorting to ask what the double less than chevrons mean? I know what one means but what do two of them mean?

[donbindner]

In this context, it means "much less." It's used that way sometimes in mathematical discussions.

[Spiritus]

Basically “much less than”.

[oh_sigh]

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+does+<<+mean