MAXIMUM (maxima)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: maxima   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does maximum mean? 

• MAXIMUM (noun)
  The noun MAXIMUM has 3 senses:

1. the largest possible quantity

2. the greatest possible degree

3. the point on a curve where the tangent changes from positive on the left to negative on the right

  Familiarity information: MAXIMUM used as a noun is uncommon.

• MAXIMUM (adjective)
  The adjective MAXIMUM has 1 sense:

1. the greatest or most complete or best possible

  Familiarity information: MAXIMUM used as an adjective is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MAXIMUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The largest possible quantity

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

maximum; upper limit

Hypernyms ("maximum" is a kind of...):

extremum; peak (the most extreme possible amount or value)

large indefinite amount; large indefinite quantity (an indefinite quantity that is above the average in size or magnitude)

Antonym:

minimum (the smallest possible quantity)

Derivation:

maximise (make as big or large as possible)

maximise (make the most of)

maximize (make as big or large as possible)

maximize (make the most of)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The greatest possible degree

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

level best; maximum; utmost; uttermost

Context example:

he tried his utmost

Hypernyms ("maximum" is a kind of...):

bound; boundary; limit (the greatest possible degree of something)

Derivation:

maximise (make as big or large as possible)

maximise (make the most of)

maximize (make as big or large as possible)

maximize (make the most of)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The point on a curve where the tangent changes from positive on the left to negative on the right

Classified under:

Nouns denoting spatial position

Hypernyms ("maximum" is a kind of...):

limit (as far as something can go)

Antonym:

minimum (the point on a curve where the tangent changes from negative on the left to positive on the right)

• MAXIMUM (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The greatest or most complete or best possible

Synonyms:

maximal; maximum

Context example:

maximum pressure

Similar:

sublime; supreme (greatest or maximal in degree; extreme)

Antonym:

minimum (the least possible)

 Context examples 

Each question or sub-question has a rating of 0 or 1 with 0 representing a wrong or failed response and 1 representing a correct response; the maximum score is 30.

(Mini-Mental State Examination Questionnaire, NCI Thesaurus)

Was set a maximum limit of 0.2 milligrams of arsenic per kilogram of polished rice.

(Parboiling husked rice reduces arsenic content, SciDev.Net)

Across all menu categories, at least three-quarters of individual menu items were below the daily maximum recommended intake for energy, fat, saturated fat, sugar and salt.

(Menu labelling linked to less fat and salt in food, University of Cambridge)

Decreased maximum (peak) concentration of a concomitant drug observed after its administration.

(Decreased Concomitant Drug Peak Blood Concentration, NCI Thesaurus)

The models show this activity should be at a maximum at the moon's poles.

(Powering Saturn's Active Ocean Moon, NASA)

Cell phones typically emit lower levels of RFR than the maximum level allowed.

(High exposure to radiofrequency radiation linked to tumor activity in male rats, National Institutes of Health)

Its maximum speed is 200 meters per hour.

(Chinese Rover Making Tracks on Dark Side of the Moon, VOA)

A relative (ratio or percentage) measurement of the time it takes to generate the maximum concentration of thrombin.

(Endogenous Thrombin Potential Time to Peak Relative Measurement, NCI Thesaurus)

A measurement of the time it takes to generate the maximum concentration of thrombin.

(Endogenous Thrombin Potential Time to Peak Measurement, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

The maximum concentration occurring at Tmax.

(Cmax, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)