I. min ‧ i ‧ mum 1 S2 W3 AC /ˈmɪnəməm, ˈmɪnɪməm/ BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ minimum , ↑ minimalism , ↑ minimalist ; adjective : ↑ minimal , ↑ minimum , ↑ minimalist ; adverb : ↑ minimally , ↑ minimum ; verb : ↑ minimize ]
the minimum number, degree, or amount of something is the smallest or least that is possible, allowed, or needed OPP maximum :
The minimum number of students we need to run the course is fifteen.
The minimum age for retirement is 55.
—minimum adverb :
You’ll need two tons of cement, minimum.
II. minimum 2 AC BrE AmE noun [singular]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ minimum , ↑ minimalism , ↑ minimalist ; adjective : ↑ minimal , ↑ minimum , ↑ minimalist ; adverb : ↑ minimally , ↑ minimum ; verb : ↑ minimize ]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: minimus 'smallest' ]
1 . the smallest amount of something or number of things that is possible or necessary OPP maximum
a minimum of two hours/£1,000 etc
The judge recommended that he should serve a minimum of 12 years.
minimum of
He achieved enviable results with the minimum of effort.
absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount or number)
Prison inmates are kept in tiny cells, with the bare minimum of furniture.
keep/reduce something to a minimum
She had reduced her consumption of fat and sugar to an absolute minimum.
2 . at a/the minimum used to say that if nothing else is done, this one thing should be done:
At a minimum, we must recruit two new teachers.
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COLLOCATIONS
■ verbs
▪ have a minimum of something
Candidates should have a minimum of five years’ work experience.
▪ keep something to a minimum (=to keep something at a low level)
Keep the noise to a minimum, will you?
▪ reduce something to a minimum (=make something less, so it is at a low level)
We want to reduce the environmental impact to a minimum.
▪ need a minimum of something ( also require a minimum of something formal )
We’ll need a minimum of two days to get this ready.
■ adjectives
▪ an absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount)
He paid in five pounds, the bare minimum needed to keep the bank account open.
▪ the legal/statutory minimum (=the least amount the law says you must have)
The wage was often well below the legal minimum.
▪ the required/necessary minimum (=the least amount that you must have)
He received 35 votes, two more than the required minimum.
■ phrases
▪ with a minimum of fuss (=with very little anxious behaviour or activity)
They checked our passports with the minimum of fuss.
▪ with a minumum of effort (=with very little effort)
The house could be restored with a minimum of effort.
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THESAURUS
▪ limit the highest number, speed, temperature etc that is allowed by a law or rule:
He borrowed money up to the limit that the bank allowed.
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The speed limit is 65 m.p.h.
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There’s no limit on the amount of money that may be brought into the US.
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Pollution levels are over the official limit.
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Some families set limits on how much they spend on each other’s Christmas present.
▪ restrictions rules or laws that strictly control what you are allowed to do:
Travel restrictions might reduce the spread of the disease.
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Unions are pressing for restrictions on steel imports from Japan.
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Because of restrictions on reporting, newspapers were not allowed to cover the story.
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New restrictions have been imposed on immigration.
▪ limitations limits on what a person or thing is able to do – used especially when you would like to be able to do more:
The president was unwilling to accept limitations on his power.
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the limitations of the computer system
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Hikers should know their physical limitations and not take unnecessary risks.
▪ constraints facts or conditions that limit what you can do, for example not having enough time, money etc:
Financial constraints are forcing many people in their twenties to live with their parents.
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The last part of the show had to be cut because of time constraints.
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The constraints of prison life are sometimes too much for people to bear.
▪ maximum the largest number or amount that is possible, normal, or allowed:
Classes have a maximum of twenty students.
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What’s the maximum you can earn before you have to pay tax?
▪ minimum the smallest number or amount that is possible or allowed:
He was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison.
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Our aim is to reduce the number of accidents to an absolute minimum.
▪ ceiling the largest number or amount of something that is officially allowed:
There is a ceiling on the amount of foreign investment.
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Import quotas may rise from the present ceiling of 18.5 million to 20 million.
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Congress was once again considering raising the federal debt ceiling.