ultra
[ uhl-truh ]
/ ˈʌl trə /
adjective
going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.
noun
an extremist, as in politics, religion, fashion, etc.
(initial capital letter) Military. the British code name for intelligence gathered by decrypting German wireless communications enciphered on the Enigma machine during World War II.
Nearby words
ultimatum, ultimo, ultimogeniture, ultisol, ulto., ultra, ultra filtration, ultra vires, ultra-, ultra-distance, ultrabasic
Origin of ultra
independent use of ultra-, or shortening of words prefixed with it
Definition for ultra (2 of 3)
ultra-
a prefix occurring originally in loanwords from Latin, with the basic meaning “on the far side of, beyond.” In relation to the base to which it is prefixed, ultra- has the senses “located beyond, on the far side of” (ultramontane; ultraviolet), “carrying to the furthest degree possible, on the fringe of” (ultraleft; ultramodern), “extremely” (ultralight); nouns to which it is added denote, in general, objects, properties, phenomena, etc., that surpass customary norms, or instruments designed to produce or deal with such things (ultramicroscope; ultrasound; ultrastructure).
Origin of ultra-
< Latin ultrā (adv. and preposition) on the far side (of), beyond, derivative of *ult(e)r- located beyond
Definition for ultra (3 of 3)
ne plus ultra
[ nee pluhs uhl-truh, ney; Latin ne ploo s oo l-trah ]
/ ˈni ˌplʌs ˈʌl trə, ˈneɪ; Latin ˈnɛ ˌplʊs ˈʊl trɑ /
noun
the highest point; acme.
the most intense degree of a quality or state.
Origin of ne plus ultra
1690–1700; < New Latin, Latin nē plūs ultrā (may you) not (go) further beyond (this point)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for ultra
British Dictionary definitions for ultra (1 of 3)
ultra
/ (ˈʌltrə) /
adjective
extreme or immoderate, esp in beliefs or opinions
noun
an extremist
Word Origin for ultra
C19: from Latin: beyond, from ulter distant
British Dictionary definitions for ultra (2 of 3)
ne plus ultra
/ Latin (ˈneɪ ˈplʊs ˈʊltrɑː) /
noun
the extreme or perfect point or state
Word Origin for ne plus ultra
literally: not more beyond (that is, go no further), allegedly a warning to sailors inscribed on the Pillars of Hercules at Gibraltar
British Dictionary definitions for ultra (3 of 3)
ultra-
prefix
beyond or surpassing a specified extent, range, or limitultramicroscopic
extreme or extremelyultramodern
Word Origin for ultra-
from Latin ultrā beyond; see ultra
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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Medicine definitions for ultra
ultra-
pref.
Beyond; on the other side of:ultraviolet.
Beyond the range, scope, or limit of:ultrasonic.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
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