Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
option premium
option price
option seller
option series
option writer
optional
options on physicals
opto-
optoelectronics
optometrist
optometry
optophone
opulent
opuntia
opus
opus anglicanum
opuscule
Click to move down the list of words
Also available:

World English Dictionary
Dictionnaire Français

optimum

op·ti·mum [ óptəməm ]


noun  (plural op·ti·ma [ óptəmə ] or op·ti·mums)
Definition:
 
best of several outcomes: the best out of a number of possible options or outcomes



adjective 
Definition:
 
best: most desirable or favorable
optimum trading conditions

[Late 19th century. < Latin, "best thing" < optimus "best"]

Word Usage

Note that the word optimum refers to quality, not quantity - it means "best," not "greatest" or "most": the optimum temperature for the storage of perishable foodstuffs. It often happens that the best is also the greatest or most, as in We are seeking the optimum return on our investment, which may be the reason for the confusion about the meaning of the word.

Advertisement

© 2009 Microsoft