limit

[lim-it]

noun

1. the final, utmost, or furthest boundary or point as to extent, amount, continuance, procedure, etc.: the limit of vision.

   the limit of his experience;

   the limit of vision.

2. a boundary or bound, as of a country, area, or district.

   Synonyms: border, frontier, confines

3. Mathematics.

   1. 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.

   2. 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.

   3. 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.

4. limits, the premises or region enclosed within boundaries.

   We found them on school limits after hours.

5. Games.,  the maximum sum by which a bet may be raised at any one time.

6. Informal.,  the limit, something or someone that exasperates, delights, etc., to an extreme degree.

   You have made errors before, but this is the limit.

verb (used with object)

1. to restrict by or as if by establishing limits (usually followed byto ).

   Please limit answers to 25 words.

2. to confine or keep within limits.

   to limit expenditures.

   Synonyms: bound, restrain

3. Law.,  to fix or assign definitely or specifically.

limit

/ ˈlɪmɪt /

noun

1. (sometimes plural) the ultimate extent, degree, or amount of something

   the limit of endurance

2. (often plural) the boundary or edge of a specific area

   the city limits

3. (often plural) the area of premises within specific boundaries

4. the largest quantity or amount allowed

5. maths

   1. 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

   2. a value to which a sequence an approaches arbitrarily close as n approaches infinity

   3. the limit of a sequence of partial sums of a convergent infinite series

      the limit of 1 + ½ + ¼ + ⅛ + … is 2

6. maths one of the two specified values between which a definite integral is evaluated

7. informal,  a person or thing that is intolerably exasperating

8. 1. out of bounds

   2. forbidden to do or use

      smoking was off limits everywhere

9. to a certain or limited extent

   I approve of it within limits

verb

1. to restrict or confine, as to area, extent, time, etc

2. law to agree, fix, or assign specifically

limit

1. 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 ‖

Other Word Forms

• limitable adjective
• limitableness noun
• overlimit verb (used with object)
• relimit verb (used with object)
• underlimit verb (used with object)
• limitlessly adverb
• limitlessness noun
• limitless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of limit¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English lymyt, from Latin līmit-, stem of līmes “boundary, path between fields”

Word History and Origins

Origin of limit¹

C14: from Latin līmes boundary

Idioms and Phrases

see go whole hog (the limit); sky's the limit; the limit.

Example Sentences

Zak says this limits the opportunities for him and his colleagues.

Read more on BBC

“We can handle a certain amount of heat because, you know, we are fit, we’re strong, we’re mentally strong as well, but there’s always a limit,” said Rune, the world No. 11.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The rule also would affect cars, solar panels and the equipment for making chips and other products, limiting the ability of other countries to support their own industries.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

David Levine, a professor of law at UC San Francisco, said Wednesday’s arrest ultimately didn’t seem to change the limited liability that public officials have in a fire through government immunity.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

It is unclear how and when it would implement the restrictions, which mirror those the U.S. has taken to limit China’s access to semiconductor-related exports from third countries.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• bar 
• curb 
• define 
• hinder 
• inhibit 
• lessen 
• narrow 
• reduce 
• set 
• specify