See Also: law of the minimum(medicine)
minimum(dictionary)
minimum(encyclopedia)
Minimum(medicine)
minimum 1, adjective(dictionary)
Alternative minimum tax (AMT)(finance)
Minimum room(tourism)
Minimum maintenance(finance)
Minimum margin(finance)
Minimum wage(finance)

minimum (iou)



minimum noun & adjective. M17.
[Latin, use as noun of neut. of minimus: see MINIM noun & adjective.]
A. noun. Pl. -ima , -imums.
The smallest portion into which matter is divisible; an atom. Also, the hypothetical smallest possible portion of time or space. M17-M18.
The smallest amount or quantity possible, usual, attainable, etc. L17.
Math. The least value which a variable or a function may have; the smallest element in a set; a point at which a continuously varying quantity ceases to decrease and begins to increase; the value of a quantity at such a point. M18.
The lowest amount of a varying quantity (e.g. temperature, pressure, sunspot activity, etc.) attained or recorded within a particular period. E19.
Comb.: minimum thermometer: which records the lowest temperature attained since it was last set.
b. adjective. That is a minimum; that is the lowest possible, usual, attainable, etc. E19.
Special collocations: minimum free form Linguistics = MINIMAL free form. minimum lending rate Economics the minimum percentage at which a central bank will discount bills (abolished in Britain in 1981).