limit
the final, utmost, or furthest boundary or point as to extent, amount, continuance, procedure, etc.: the limit of his experience;the limit of vision.
a boundary or bound, as of a country, area, or district.
Mathematics.
a number such that the value of a given function remains arbitrarily close to this number when the independent variable is sufficiently close to a specified point or is sufficiently large. The limit of 1/x is zero as x approaches infinity; the limit of (x − 1)2 is zero as x approaches 1.
a number such that the absolute value of the difference between terms of a given sequence and the number approaches zero as the index of the terms increases to infinity.
one of two numbers affixed to the integration symbol for a definite integral, indicating the interval or region over which the integration is taking place and substituted in a primitive, if one exists, to evaluate the integral.
limits, the premises or region enclosed within boundaries: We found them on school limits after hours.
Games. the maximum sum by which a bet may be raised at any one time.
the limit, Informal. something or someone that exasperates, delights, etc., to an extreme degree: You have made errors before, but this is the limit.
to restrict by or as if by establishing limits (usually followed by to): Please limit answers to 25 words.
to confine or keep within limits: to limit expenditures.
Law. to fix or assign definitely or specifically.
Origin of limit
1Other words for limit
Other words from limit
- lim·it·a·ble, adjective
- lim·it·a·ble·ness, noun
- o·ver·lim·it, verb (used with object)
- re·lim·it, verb (used with object)
- un·der·lim·it, noun
- un·der·lim·it, verb (used with object)
Words that may be confused with limit
- limit , limitation
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
British Dictionary definitions for limit
/ (ˈlɪmɪt) /
(sometimes plural) the ultimate extent, degree, or amount of something: the limit of endurance
(often plural) the boundary or edge of a specific area: the city limits
(often plural) the area of premises within specific boundaries
the largest quantity or amount allowed
maths
a value to which a function f(x) approaches as closely as desired as the independent variable approaches a specified value (x = a) or approaches infinity
a value to which a sequence a n approaches arbitrarily close as n approaches infinity
the limit of a sequence of partial sums of a convergent infinite series: the limit of 1 + ½ + ¼ + ⅛ + … is 2
maths one of the two specified values between which a definite integral is evaluated
the limit informal a person or thing that is intolerably exasperating
off limits
out of bounds
forbidden to do or use: smoking was off limits everywhere
within limits to a certain or limited extent: I approve of it within limits
to restrict or confine, as to area, extent, time, etc
law to agree, fix, or assign specifically
Origin of limit
1Derived forms of limit
- limitable, adjective
- limitableness, noun
- limitless, adjective
- limitlessly, adverb
- limitlessness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for limit
[ lĭm′ĭt ]
A number or point for which, from a given set of numbers or points, one can choose an arbitrarily close number or point. For example, for the set of all real numbers greater than zero and less than one, the numbers one and zero are limit points, since one can pick a number from the set arbitrarily close to one or zero (even though one and zero are not themselves in the set). Limits form the basis for calculus, where a number L is defined to be the limit approached by a function f(x) as x approaches a if, for every positive number ε, there exists a number δ such that |;f(x)-L|; < ε if 0 < |;x-a|; < δ.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Other Idioms and Phrases with limit
see go whole hog (the limit); sky's the limit; the limit.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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