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most

13 dictionary results for: Most

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

most

[mohst] Pronunciation Key

–adjective, superl. of much or many with more as compar.

1.	in the greatest quantity, amount, measure, degree, or number: to win the most votes.

2.	in the majority of instances: Most operations are successful.

3.	greatest, as in size or extent: the most talent.

–noun

4.	the greatest quantity, amount, or degree; the utmost: The most I can hope for is a passing grade.

5.	the greatest number or the majority of a class specified: Most of his writing is rubbish.

6.	the greatest number: The most this room will seat is 150.

7.	the majority of persons: to be more sensitive than most.

8.	the most, Slang. the ultimate in something: He's the most. That movie was the most.

–adverb, superl. of much with more as compar.

9.	in or to the greatest extent or degree (in this sense often used before adjectives and adverbs, and regularly before those of more than two syllables, to form superlative phrases having the same force and effect as the superlative degree formed by the termination -est): most rapid; most wisely.

10.	very: a most puzzling case.

11.	Informal. almost or nearly.

—Idioms

12.	at the most, at the maximum. Also, at most.

13.	for the most part. part (def. 34).

14.	make the most of, to use to greatest advantage; utilize fully: to make the most of an opportunity.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME most(e), OE māst; r. ME mest(e), OE mǣst; c. G meist, Goth maists. See more

]

—Synonyms 11. See almost.

—Usage note 11. The adverb most, a shortened form of almost, is far from being either a recent development or an Americanism. It goes back to the 16th century in England, where it is now principally a dialect form. In American English it occurs before such pronouns as all, anyone, anybody, everyone, and everybody; the adjectives all, any, and every; and adverbs like anywhere and everywhere: Most everyone around here is related to everyone else. You can find that plant most anywhere. This use of most is often objected to, but it is common in the informal speech of educated persons. It is less common in edited writing except in representations of speech.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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man·y

[men-ee] Pronunciation Key adjective, more, most, noun, pronoun

–adjective

1.	constituting or forming a large number; numerous: many people.

2.	noting each one of a large number (usually fol. by a or an): For many a day it rained.

–noun

3.	a large or considerable number of persons or things: A good many of the beggars were blind.

4.	the many, the greater part of humankind.

–pronoun

5.	many persons or things: Many of the beggars were blind. Many were unable to attend.

[Origin: bef. 900; ME mani, meni, OE manig, menig; akin to OS, OHG manag, menig, Dan mange, Goth manags

]

—Synonyms 1. multifarious, multitudinous, myriad; divers, sundry, various. Many, innumerable, manifold, numerous imply the presence or succession of a large number of units. Many is a popular and common word for this idea: many times. Numerous, a more formal word, refers to a great number or to very many units: letters too numerous to mention. Innumerable denotes a number that is beyond count or, more loosely, that is extremely difficult to count: the innumerable stars in the sky. Manifold implies not only that the number is large but also that there is variety or complexity.

—Antonyms 1. few, single.

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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much

[muhch] Pronunciation Key adjective, more, most, noun, adverb, more, most.

–adjective

1.	great in quantity, measure, or degree: too much cake.

–noun

2.	a great quantity, measure, or degree: Much of his research was unreliable.

3.	a great, important, or notable thing or matter: The house is not much to look at.

–adverb

4.	to a great extent or degree; greatly; far: to talk too much; much heavier.

5.	nearly, approximately, or about: This is much like the others.

—Idioms

make much of,

a.	to treat, represent, or consider as of great importance: to make much of trivial matters.

b.	to treat with great consideration; show fondness for; flatter.

much as,

a.	almost the same as: We need exercise, much as we need nourishment.

b.	however much: Much as she wanted to stay at the party, she had to leave.

[Origin: 1150–1200; ME muche, moche, apocopated var. of muchel, mochel, OE mycel; r. ME miche(l), OE micel great, much (cf. mickle), c. ON mikill, Goth mikils, Gk mégal-, suppletive s. of mégas great

]

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

man·y (měn'ē) Pronunciation Key
adj. more (môr, mōr), most (mōst)

Being one of a large indefinite number; numerous: many a child; many another day.
Amounting to or consisting of a large indefinite number: many friends.

n. (used with a pl. verb)

A large indefinite number: A good many of the workers had the flu.
The majority of the people; the masses: "The many fail, the one succeeds" (Tennyson).

pron. (used with a pl. verb)
A large number of persons or things: "For many are called, but few are chosen" (Matthew 22:14).

[Middle English, from Old English manig; see menegh- in Indo-European roots.]

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Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

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most (mōst) Pronunciation Key
adj. Superlative of many, much.

1. Greatest in number: won the most votes.
2. Greatest in amount, extent, or degree: has the most compassion.
In the greatest number of instances: Most fish have fins.

The greatest amount or degree: She has the most to gain.
Slang The greatest, best, or most exciting. Used with the: That party was the most!

pron. (used with a sing. or pl. verb) The greatest part or number: Most of the town was destroyed. Most of the books were missing.

adv. Superlative of much.

In or to the highest degree or extent. Used with many adjectives and adverbs to form the superlative degree: most honest; most impatiently.
Very: a most impressive piece of writing.
Informal Almost: Most everyone agrees.

[Middle English, from Old English mǣst, māst; see mē-³ in Indo-European roots. Adv., sense 3, short for almost.]

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much   (mŭch) Pronunciation Key
adj.   more (môr, mōr), most (mōst)
Great in quantity, degree, or extent: not much rain; much affection.

n.

A large quantity or amount: Much has been written.
Something great or remarkable: The campus wasn't much to look at.

adv. more, most

To a great degree or extent: much smarter.
Just about; almost: much the same.
Frequently; often: doesn't get out much.

[Middle English muche, short for muchel, from Old English mycel; see meg- in Indo-European roots.]

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Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
most

O.E. mast "greatest number, amount, extent," earlier mæst, from P.Gmc. *maistaz (cf. O.S. mest, O.N. mestr, Ger. meist, Goth. maists "most"), superlative form of P.Gmc. *maiz, root of O.E. ma, mara (see more). Used in O.E. as superl. of micel "great, large" (see mickle). Vowel influenced by more. Original sense of "greatest" survives in phrase for the most part (c.1400). Slang meaning "the best, extremely good" is attested from 1953. Double superlative mostest is 1885, from U.S. Southern and Black English.

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WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

most
adjective
1.	(superlative of 'many' used with count nouns and often preceded by 'the') quantifier meaning the greatest in number; "who has the most apples?"; "most people like eggs"; "most fishes have fins" [ant: fewest]
2.	the superlative of 'much' that can be used with mass nouns and is usually preceded by 'the'; a quantifier meaning the greatest in amount or extent or degree; "made the most money he could"; "what attracts the most attention?"; "made the most of a bad deal" [ant: least]
adverb
1.	used to form the superlative; "the king cobra is the most dangerous snake" [ant: least]
2.	very; "a most welcome relief"
3.	(of actions or states) slightly short of or not quite accomplished; all but; "the job is (just) about done"; "the baby was almost asleep when the alarm sounded"; "we're almost finished"; "the car all but ran her down"; "he nearly fainted"; "talked for nigh onto 2 hours"; "the recording is well-nigh perfect"; "virtually all the parties signed the contract"; "I was near exhausted by the run"; "most everyone agrees" [syn: about]

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American Heritage Dictionary of Idioms - Cite This Source - Share This

most

see at most; for the most part; make the most of.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Most

Most\, a., superl. of More. [OE. most, mast, mest, AS. m?st; akin to D. meest, OS. m[=e]st, G. meist, Icel. mestr, Goth. maists; a superl. corresponding to E. more. [root]103. See More, a.]

1. Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest; nearly all. "Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness." --Prov. xx. 6.

The cities wherein most of his mighty works were done. --Matt. xi. 20.

2. Greatest in degree; as, he has the most need of it. "In the moste pride." --Chaucer.

3. Highest in rank; greatest. [Obs.] --Chaucer.

Note: Most is used as a noun, the words part, portion, quantity, etc., being omitted, and has the following meanings: 1. The greatest value, number, or part; preponderating portion; highest or chief part. 2. The utmost; greatest possible amount, degree, or result; especially in the phrases to make the most of, at the most, at most.

A quarter of a year or some months at the most. --Bacon.

A covetous man makes the most of what he has. --L'Estrange.

For the most part, in reference to the larger part of a thing, or to the majority of the persons, instances, or things referred to; as, human beings, for the most part, are superstitious; the view, for the most part, was pleasing.

Most an end, generally. See An end, under End, n. [Obs.] "She sleeps most an end." --Massinger.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Most

Most\, adv. [AS. m[=ae]st. See Most, a.] In the greatest or highest degree.

Those nearest to this king, and most his favorites, were courtiers and prelates. --Milton.

Note: Placed before an adjective or adverb, most is used to form the superlative degree, being equivalent to the termination -est; as, most vile, most wicked; most illustrious; most rapidly. Formerly, and until after the Elizabethan period of our literature, the use of the double superlative was common. See More, adv.

The most unkindest cut of all. --Shak.

The most straitest sect of our religion. --Acts xxvi. 5.

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Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

Most

Most\, adv.

Most-favored-nation clause (Diplomacy), a clause, often inserted in treaties, by which each of the contracting nations binds itself to grant to the other in certain stipulated matters the same terms as are then, or may be thereafter, granted to the nation which receives from it the most favorable terms in respect of those matters.

There was a "most-favored-nation" clause with provisions for the good treatment of strangers entering the Republic. --James Bryce.

Steam navigation was secured by the Japanese as far as Chungking, and under the most-favored-nation clause the right accrued to us. --A. R. Colquhoun.

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American Heritage Abbreviations Dictionary 3rd Edition - Cite This Source - Share This

MOST
magneto-optical storage technology

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