maximum: Meaning and Definition of

max•i•mum

Pronunciation: (mak'su-mum), [key]
— n., pl. adj. -mums, -ma
—n.
  1. the greatest quantity or amount possible, assignable, allowable, etc.
  2. the highest amount, value, or degree attained or recorded.
  3. an upper limit allowed or allowable by law or regulation.
    1. Also calledrelative 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. Cf.absolute maximum.
    2. the point in the domain at which a maximum occurs.
—adj.
  1. that is a maximum; greatest or highest possible or attained: maximum satisfaction; maximum temperature.
  2. pertaining to a maximum or maximums.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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