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OPTIMAL - 5 dictionary results

op⋅ti⋅mal

  [op-tuh-muhl]
Use OPTIMAL in a Sentence
–adjective
optimum (def. 3).
Origin:
1885–90; optim(um) + -al 1

Related forms:
op⋅ti⋅mal⋅ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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op·ti·mal   (ŏp'tə-məl)   
adj.  Most favorable or desirable; optimum.
op'ti·mal·ly adv.
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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optimal 
"most favorable," 1890, from L. optimus (see optimum). Originally a word in biology.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: op·ti·mal
Pronunciation: 'äp-t&-m&l
Function: adjective
: most desirable or satisfactory : OPTIMUM <optimal concentrations of a drug> —op·ti·mal·i·ty /"äp-t&-'mal-&t-E/ noun plural -ties
—op·ti·mal·ly /-m&-lE/ adverb
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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optimal
1. Describes a solution to a problem which minimises some cost function. Linear programming is one technique used to discover the optimal solution to certain problems.
2. Of code: best or most efficient in time, space or code size.
(1995-10-05)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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