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ultra

[ uhl-truh ]
/ ˈʌl trə /
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See synonyms for: ultra / ultras on Thesaurus.com
adjective
going beyond what is usual or ordinary; excessive; extreme.
noun
an extremist, as in politics, religion, fashion, etc.
Ultra, Military. the British code name for intelligence gathered by decrypting German wireless communications enciphered on the Enigma machine during World War II.
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Origin of ultra

Independent use of ultra-, or shortening of words prefixed with it

Other definitions for ultra (2 of 2)

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
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to ultra

all out, drastic, excessive, extremist, fanatical, far-out, gone, immoderate, outlandish, out of bounds, outré, rabid, radical, revolutionary, too much

How to use ultra in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ultra (1 of 2)

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 2)

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 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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