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maximum
[ mak-suh-muhm ]
/ ˈmæk sə məm /
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noun, plural max·i·mums, max·i·ma [mak-suh-muh]. /ˈmæk sə mə/.
the greatest quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, etc.
the highest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.
an upper limit allowed or allowable by law or regulation.
Mathematics.
- Also called relative maximum, local maximum. the value of a function at a certain point in its domain, which is greater than or equal to the values at all other points in the immediate vicinity of the point.Compare absolute maximum.
- the point in the domain at which a maximum occurs.
adjective
that is a maximum; greatest or highest possible or attained: maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature.
pertaining to a maximum or maximums.
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Origin of maximum
1730–40; <Latin, noun use of neuter of maximus, superlative of magnus great, large
OTHER WORDS FROM maximum
max·i·mum·ly, adverbsub·max·i·mum, adjectiveWords nearby maximum
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use maximum in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for maximum
maximum
/ (ˈmæksɪməm) /
noun plural -mums or -ma (-mə)
the greatest possible amount, degree, etc
the highest value of a variable quantity
maths
- a value of a function that is greater than any neighbouring value
- a stationary point on a curve at which the tangent changes from a positive value on the left of this point to a negative value on the rightCompare minimum (def. 4)
- the largest number in a set
astronomy
- the time at which the brightness of a variable star has its greatest value
- the magnitude of the star at that time
adjective
of, being, or showing a maximum or maximums
Abbreviation: max
Word Origin for maximum
C18: from Latin: greatest (the neuter form used as noun), from magnus great
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 maximum
maximum
[ măk′sə-məm ]
Plural maximums maxima
The greatest known or greatest possible number, measure, quantity, or degree.
The greatest value of a mathematical function, if it has such a value.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.