ex·treme
(ĭk-strēḿ)
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin extrēmus.]
adjective
- Most remote in any direction; outermost or farthest: the extreme edge of the field.
- Being in or attaining the greatest or highest degree; very intense: extreme pleasure; extreme pain.
- Extending far beyond the norm: an extreme conservative. See synonyms at excessive
- Of the greatest severity; drastic: took extreme measures to conserve fuel.
- Biology
- Characterized by severe, usually oxygen-poor environmental conditions.
- Having an affinity for such conditions: an extreme microorganism.
- Sports
- Very dangerous or difficult: extreme rafting.
- Participating or tending to participate in a very dangerous or difficult sport: an extreme skier.
- Archaic Final; last.
noun
- The greatest or utmost degree or point.
- Either of the two things situated at opposite ends of a range: the extremes of boiling and freezing.
- An extreme condition.
- An immoderate, drastic expedient: resorted to extremes in the emergency.
- Mathematics
- The first or last term of a ratio or a series.
- A maximum or minimum value of a function.
- Logic The major or minor term of a syllogism.
derivatives
- ex·tremély
- adverb
- ex·treméness
- noun
