minimum

Word family  noun minimum minimalism minimalist adjective minimal minimum minimalist verb minimize adverb minimally minimum

 Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English 5++朗文当代英语 5++LDOCE 5++朗文 5++min·i·mum1 /ˈmɪnəməm/ ●●● S3 W2 AWL adjective [only before noun]  LEASTthe minimum number, degree, or amount of something is the smallest or least that is possible, allowed, or needed 最小的，最少的；最低限度的 OPP maximum The minimum number of students we need to run the course is fifteen. 我们开这门课程最少要有15个学生。 The minimum age for retirement is 55. 最小退休年龄为55岁。 —minimum adverb You’ll need two tons of cement, minimum. 你至少需要两吨水泥。

Examples from the Corpus

minimum• The minimum age to buy cigarettes is 18.• But it is not merely the minimum content of natural law which supports such a view.• This is the minimum daily amount of a nutrient required by an adult to prevent symptoms of deficiency.• The governor is proposing the minimum increase for schools required by Proposition 98.• The minimum order is five hundred business cards.• It will lay down minimum terms for a new manufacturer's guarantees.• Overall both Namurian and Visean gradients are comparable with that for the Westphalian minimum uplift composite trend.• The local shop paid Mino the legal minimum wage, but worked him twice the legal number of hours.• What is the minimum wage these days?• He will call for a higher minimum wage.• So one perennial idea getting a second wind is the campaign to raise the pitifully low current minimum wage.minimum2 ●●● S3 W2 AWL noun [singular]  1  LEASTthe smallest amount of something or number of things that is possible or necessary 最少量，最小数；最低限度 OPP maximuma minimum of two hours/£1,000 etc The judge recommended that he should serve a minimum of 12 years. 法官提议至少应判他12年徒刑。minimum of He achieved enviable results with the minimum of effort. 他轻而易举就获得了令人嫉妒的成绩。absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount or number) 绝对/仅够的最少量 Prison inmates are kept in tiny cells, with the bare minimum of furniture. 犯人们被关在狭小的囚室里，只有再简单不过的几件家具。keep/reduce something to a minimum She had reduced her consumption of fat and sugar to an absolute minimum. 她已把脂肪和糖的摄入量减少到最低程度。2  at a/the minimum used to say that if nothing else is done, this one thing should be done 最起码，至少，最少 At a minimum, we must recruit two new teachers. 我们最起码应该招两名新教师。n COLLOCATIONSverbshave a minimum of somethingCandidates should have a minimum of five years’ work experience.keep something to a minimum (=to keep something at a low level)Keep the noise to a minimum, will you?reduce something to a minimum (=make something less, so it is at a low level)We want to reduce the environmental impact to a minimum.need a minimum of something (also require a minimum of something formal)We’ll need a minimum of two days to get this ready.adjectivesan absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount)He paid in five pounds, the bare minimum needed to keep the bank account open.the legal/statutory minimum (=the least amount the law says you must have)The wage was often well below the legal minimum.the required/necessary minimum (=the least amount that you must have)He received 35 votes, two more than the required minimum.phraseswith a minimum of fuss (=with very little anxious behaviour or activity)They checked our passports with the minimum of fuss.with a minimum of effort (=with very little effort)The house could be restored with a minimum of effort.

Examples from the Corpus

minimum• Employees do a minimum of hand-machining work and instead spend most of their time assembling pre-cut pieces.• You have to stay for a minimum of 7 days.• A player must serve a minimum of 12 consecutive months before becoming a full member.• Let's try to keep irrelevant comments to a minimum.• This time the concept was approved and details worked out with a minimum of controversy.• These structures need to be erected and dismantled quickly with a minimum of disturbance whilst encountering many difficult locations.• A minimum of £60,000 would be needed to cover fees for two children attending public school from age nine to 18.• The hospital has reduced staffing to an absolute minimum.• Maximum of 10 students per group and minimum of 4.• For Lloyd's sales however, the minimum is £150,000.• He usually just pays the minimum each month on his credit cards.keep/reduce something to a minimum• Development in the hills has been kept to a minimum.• The colour co-ordinated hotplate has been designed to keep cleaning to a minimum.• Surely the Government have a responsibility to investigate mechanisms to reduce failures to a minimum.• We ask the media to keep reporting to a minimum.• Their adoption is, however, a matter of choice, in line with Council strategy to keep regulation to a minimum.• We said we would keep publicity to a minimum.• Finance is usually the first issue which needs consideration: How do you keep tax to a minimum?• We suggest that you keep these to a minimum.From Longman Business Dictionaryminimummin‧i‧mum1 /ˈmɪnəməm/ adjective [only before a noun] the smallest or least that is possible, allowed, or neededMinimum investment in each fund is £2000.There is a minimum charge of £30.The minimum requirements for the job are a degree and a teaching qualification. → compare maximum1minimumminimum2 written abbreviation min noun [singular]1the smallest amount or number of something that is possible, allowed, or neededminimum ofApplicants should have a minimum of five years’ professional experience.The company needed to raise a minimum of £150 million in new equity.2keep/reduce something to a minimum to limit something to the smallest amount or degree possibleIt is essential that we keep costs to a minimum.Risks must be reduced to the absolute minimum.Origin minimum2 (1600-1700) Latin minimus “smallest”

min·i·mum1 adjectiveminimum2 noun →n COLLOCATIONS1LDOCE OnlineChineseSyllable  

the Corpus of degree, number, minimum or Business amount

minimum

I

min‧i‧mum¹ S2 W3 AC /ˈmɪnəməm, ˈmɪnɪməm/ adjective [only before noun]the minimum number, degree, or amount of something is the smallest or least that is possible, allowed, or needed
   OPP  maximum:
    The minimum number of students we need to run the course is fifteen.
    The minimum age for retirement is 55.
—minimum adverb:
    You’ll need two tons of cement, minimum.

II

minimum² AC noun [singular]1. the smallest amount of something or number of things that is possible or necessary
   OPP  maximum
    a minimum of two hours/£1,000 etc
    The judge recommended that he should serve a minimum of 12 years.
    minimum of
    He achieved enviable results with the minimum of effort.
    absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount or number)
    Prison inmates are kept in tiny cells, with the bare minimum of furniture.
    keep/reduce something to a minimum
    She had reduced her consumption of fat and sugar to an absolute minimum.
2. at a/the minimum used to say that if nothing else is done, this one thing should be done:
    At a minimum, we must recruit two new teachers.
     

COLLOCATIONS

■ verbs
   ▪ have a minimum of something Candidates should have a minimum of five years’ work experience.
   ▪ keep something to a minimum (=to keep something at a low level) Keep the noise to a minimum, will you?
   ▪ reduce something to a minimum (=make something less, so it is at a low level) We want to reduce the environmental impact to a minimum.
   ▪ need a minimum of something (also require a minimum of something formal) We’ll need a minimum of two days to get this ready.
■ adjectives
   ▪ an absolute/bare minimum (=the very least amount) He paid in five pounds, the bare minimum needed to keep the bank account open.
   ▪ the legal/statutory minimum (=the least amount the law says you must have) The wage was often well below the legal minimum.
   ▪ the required/necessary minimum (=the least amount that you must have) He received 35 votes, two more than the required minimum.
■ phrases
   ▪ with a minimum of fuss (=with very little anxious behaviour or activity) They checked our passports with the minimum of fuss.
   ▪ with a minumum of effort (=with very little effort) The house could be restored with a minimum of effort.
     

THESAURUS

   ▪ limit the highest number, speed, temperature etc that is allowed by a law or rule: He borrowed money up to the limit that the bank allowed. | The speed limit is 65 m.p.h. | There’s no limit on the amount of money that may be brought into the US. | Pollution levels are over the official limit. | Some families set limits on how much they spend on each other’s Christmas present.
   ▪ restrictions rules or laws that strictly control what you are allowed to do: Travel restrictions might reduce the spread of the disease. | Unions are pressing for restrictions on steel imports from Japan. | Because of restrictions on reporting, newspapers were not allowed to cover the story. | New restrictions have been imposed on immigration.
   ▪ limitations limits on what a person or thing is able to do – used especially when you would like to be able to do more: The president was unwilling to accept limitations on his power. | the limitations of the computer system | Hikers should know their physical limitations and not take unnecessary risks.
   ▪ constraints facts or conditions that limit what you can do, for example not having enough time, money etc: Financial constraints are forcing many people in their twenties to live with their parents. | The last part of the show had to be cut because of time constraints. | The constraints of prison life are sometimes too much for people to bear.
   ▪ maximum the largest number or amount that is possible, normal, or allowed: Classes have a maximum of twenty students. | What’s the maximum you can earn before you have to pay tax?
   ▪ minimum the smallest number or amount that is possible or allowed: He was sentenced to a minimum of 25 years in prison. | Our aim is to reduce the number of accidents to an absolute minimum.
   ▪ ceiling the largest number or amount of something that is officially allowed: There is a ceiling on the amount of foreign investment. | Import quotas may rise from the present ceiling of 18.5 million to 20 million. | Congress was once again considering raising the federal debt ceiling.