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Extreme - 6 dictionary results

ex⋅treme

  [ik-streem] adjective, -trem⋅er, -trem⋅est, noun
Use Extreme in a Sentence
–adjective
1. of a character or kind farthest removed from the ordinary or average: extreme measures.
2. utmost or exceedingly great in degree: extreme joy.
3. farthest from the center or middle; outermost; endmost: the extreme limits of a town.
4. farthest, utmost, or very far in any direction: an object at the extreme point of vision.
5. exceeding the bounds of moderation: extreme fashions.
6. going to the utmost or very great lengths in action, habit, opinion, etc.: an extreme conservative.
7. last or final: extreme hopes.
8. Chiefly Sports. extremely dangerous or difficult: extreme skiing.
–noun
9. the utmost or highest degree, or a very high degree: cautious to an extreme.
10. one of two things as remote or different from each other as possible: the extremes of joy and grief.
11. the furthest or utmost length; an excessive length, beyond the ordinary or average: extremes in dress.
12. an extreme act, measure, condition, etc.: the extreme of poverty.
13. Mathematics.
a. the first or the last term, as of a proportion or series.
b. a relative maximum or relative minimum value of a function in a given region.
14. Logic. the subject or the predicate of the conclusion of a syllogism; either of two terms that are separated in the premises and brought together in the conclusion.
15. Archaic. the utmost point, or extremity, of something.
Origin:
1425–75; late ME < L extrēmus, superl. of exterus outward. See exterior

Related forms:
ex⋅treme⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
2. greatest, highest; superlative. 3. ultimate, last, uttermost, remotest. 6. extravagant, immoderate, excessive, fanatical, uncompromising, unreasonable. See radical.

Antonyms:
6. moderate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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ex·treme   (ĭk-strēm')   
adj.  
  1. Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest: the extreme edge of the field.
  2. Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense: extreme pleasure; extreme pain.
  3. Extending far beyond the norm: an extreme conservative. See Synonyms at excessive.
  4. Of the greatest severity; drastic: took extreme measures to conserve fuel.
  5. Biology
    1. Characterized by severe, usually oxygen-poor environmental conditions.
    2. Having an affinity for such conditions: an extreme microorganism.
    3. Very dangerous or difficult: extreme rafting.
    4. Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport: an extreme skier.
  6. Sports
    1. Very dangerous or difficult: extreme rafting.
    2. Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport: an extreme skier.
  7. Archaic Final; last.
n.  
  1. The greatest or utmost degree or point.
  2. Either of the two things situated at opposite ends of a range: the extremes of boiling and freezing.
  3. An extreme condition.
  4. An immoderate, drastic expedient: resorted to extremes in the emergency.
  5. Mathematics
    1. The first or last term of a ratio or a series.
    2. A maximum or minimum value of a function.
  6. Logic The major or minor term of a syllogism.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin extrēmus; see eghs in Indo-European roots.]
ex·treme'ly adv., ex·treme'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Extreme

Ex*treme"\, a. [L. extremus, superl. of exter, extrus, on the outside, outward: cf. F. extr[^e]me. See Exterior.]

1. At the utmost point, edge, or border; outermost; utmost; farthest; most remote; at the widest limit.

2. Last; final; conclusive; -- said of time; as, the extreme hour of life.

3. The best of worst; most urgent; greatest; highest; immoderate; excessive; most violent; as, an extreme case; extreme folly. "The extremest remedy." --Dryden. "Extreme rapidity." --Sir W. Scott.

Yet extreme gusts will blow out fire. --Shak.

4. Radical; ultra; as, extreme opinions.

The Puritans or extreme Protestants. --Gladstone.

5. (Mus.) Extended or contracted as much as possible; -- said of intervals; as, an extreme sharp second; an extreme flat forth.

Extreme and mean ratio (Geom.), the relation of a line and its segments when the line is so divided that the whole is to the greater segment is to the less.

Extreme distance. (Paint.) See Distance., n., 6.

Extreme unction. See under Unction.

Note: Although this adjective, being superlative in signification, is not properly subject to comparison, the superlative form not unfrequently occurs, especially in the older writers. "Tried in his extremest state." --Spenser. "Extremest hardships." --Sharp. "Extremest of evils." --Bacon. "Extremest verge of the swift brook." --Shak. "The sea's extremest borders." --Addison.

Extreme

Ex*treme"\, n. 1. The utmost point or verge; that part which terminates a body; extremity.

2. Utmost limit or degree that is supposable or tolerable; hence, furthest degree; any undue departure from the mean; -- often in the plural: things at an extreme distance from each other, the most widely different states, etc.; as, extremes of heat and cold, of virtue and vice; extremes meet.

His parsimony went to the extreme of meanness. --Bancroft.

3. An extreme state or condition; hence, calamity, danger, distress, etc. "Resolute in most extremes." --Shak.

4. (Logic) Either of the extreme terms of a syllogism, the middle term being interposed between them.

5. (Math.) The first or the last term of a proportion or series.

In the extreme as much as possible. "The position of the Port was difficult in the extreme." --J. P. Peters.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : Extreme
Spanish: extremo,
German: äußerst,
Japanese: 極度の
More Translations »

extreme  (adj.)
c.1460, from L. extremus "outermost, utmost," superl. of exterus (see exterior). In Eng. as in L., not always felt as a superl., hence more extreme, most extreme (which were condemned by Johnson). The noun is first recorded 1546, originally of the end of life, cf. L. in extremis. The derived noun extremity (from O.Fr. extremite, from L. extremitatem, from extremus) is first recorded 1375, and its meaning remains closer to the etymological source.
"What is objectionable, what is dangerous about extremists is not that they are extreme, but that they are intolerant. The evil is not what they say about their cause, but what they say about their opponents." [Robert F. Kennedy, 1964]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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extreme   (ĭk-strēm')  Pronunciation Key 
  1. Either the first or fourth term of a proportion of four terms. In the proportion 2/3 = 4/6 , the extremes are 2 and 6. Compare mean.
  2. A maximum or minimum value of a function.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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