optimum

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

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

• Audio (Southern England):

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• Audio (US):

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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.

optimum (not comparable)

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

   Synonyms: best, ideal, optimal

   optimum conditions for climbing

• William Dwight Whitney, Benjamin E[li] Smith, editors (1911), “optimum”, in The Century Dictionary […], New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., →OCLC.
• Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “optimum”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
• “optimum”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.

• IPA^(key): [ˈoptɪmum]

optimum n

1. optimum

• “optimum”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
• “optimum”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
• “optimum”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025

optimum m (plural optimums)

1. optimum

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

Borrowed from Dutch optimum, from Latin optimus (“best, very good”), from the root or in ops (“work”), omnis (“all”).

• (Standard Indonesian) IPA^(key): /opˈtimum/ [op̚ˈt̪i.mʊm]
• Rhymes: -imum
• Syllabification: op‧ti‧mum

optimum (comparative lebih optimum, superlative paling optimum)

1. optimum, optimal

   Synonym: optimal

optimum (plural optimum-optimum)

1. (biology) optimum: the best or most favorable condition, or the greatest amount or degree possible under specific sets of comparable circumstances

• “optimum” in Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia, Jakarta: Agency for Language Development and Cultivation – Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia, 2016.

optimum

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

Learned borrowing from Latin optimum.

• IPA^(key): /ɔpˈti.mum/

• Audio:

  (file)

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

optimum n

1. optimum (the best or most favorable condition)

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