optimum

See also: Optimum

English

Etymology

From New Latin, neuter of Latin optimus (“best, very good”), from the root or in ops (“work”), omnis (“all”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈɑptɪməm/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈɒptɪməm/

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

optimum (plural optima or optimums)

1. The best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances.
2. (geology, paleontology, climatology) Any long period of time marked by a persistently warm climate; a climatic optimum.

Derived terms

• climatic optimum
• global optimum
• local optimum

 

Related terms

• optimal
• optimific
• optimise, optimize
• optimism
• optimist
• optimistic

 

Translations

the best or most favorable condition

• Bulgarian: оптимум m (optimum)
• French: optimum (fr) m
• Galician: óptimo (gl) m
• German: Optimum (de) n
• Icelandic: kjörgildi n, besta gildi n, kjörstaða f
• Italian: ottimo (it) m
• Maori: tino arotau
• Polish: optimum (pl) n
• Swedish: optimum (sv) n

Adjective

optimum (not comparable)

1. The best or most advantageous; surpassing all others.

   Synonyms: best, ideal, optimal

   optimum conditions for climbing

Translations

best or most advantageous

• Bulgarian: оптимален (bg) (optimalen)
• French: optimal (fr) m
• Galician: óptimo (gl) m
• Polish: optymalny (pl), najkorzystniejszy m
• Portuguese: ótimo (pt) m
• Spanish: óptimo (es)
• Swedish: optimal (sv)

Further reading

• “optimum”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2024) “optimum”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• “optimum”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

Czech

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈoptɪmum]

Noun

optimum n

1. optimum

Declension

Declension of optimum (hard neuter foreign)

	singular	plural
nominative	optimum	optima
genitive	optima	optim
dative	optimu	optimům
accusative	optimum	optima
vocative	optimum	optima
locative	optimu	optimech
instrumental	optimem	optimy

Related terms

• optimalita
• optimální
• optimálnost
• optimismus
• optimista
• optimistický

 

Further reading

• optimum in Příruční slovník jazyka českého, 1935–1957
• optimum in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého, 1960–1971, 1989
• optimum in Internetová jazyková příručka

French

Noun

optimum m (plural optimums)

1. optimum

Further reading

• “optimum”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.

Latin

Adjective

optimum

1. inflection of optimus:
   1. accusative masculine singular
   2. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular

Polish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin optimum.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɔpˈti.mum/

• Audio

  (file)

• Rhymes: -imum
• Syllabification: op‧ti‧mum

Noun

optimum n

1. optimum (the best or most favorable condition)

Declension

Declension of optimum

	singular	plural
nominative	optimum	optima
genitive	optimum	optimów
dative	optimum	optimom
accusative	optimum	optima
instrumental	optimum	optimami
locative	optimum	optimach
vocative	optimum	optima

Related terms

adjectives

• optymalny
• optymistyczny

 

adverb

• optymalnie

 

nouns

• optymalizacja
• optymalność
• optymista
• optymizm

 

Further reading

• optimum in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
• optimum in Polish dictionaries at PWN