max

Everyday

1. (informal) Short for «maximum»: the biggest amount possible. tree →
2. (informal, adverb) At most («It'll take ten minutes max»). tree →
3. (verb, informal) max out = use up to the limit («maxed out the card»). tree →
4. (slang) «to the max» = completely. tree →
5. (a name) Max, a boy's name (short for Maximilian or Maxwell). tree →
6. (maths, computing) max — the largest value in a set. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and computing: «max» and «min» find the largest and smallest numbers. Everyday: «ten minutes max». On cookers and games: turn it up to max. Phrases: «to the max», «max out», «at the max».

Examples

• I'll be ten minutes, max. tree →
• Turn the volume up to max! tree →
• The max score is 100 points. tree →
• Find the max of 4, 9 and 7 — it's 9. tree →
• He maxed out his phone's storage. tree →
• We partied to the max. tree →
• My dog is called Max. tree →

Note

Informal; in exam writing use «maximum». In maths «max» = the greatest value, «min» = the smallest. «Max» as a name has a capital.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Here it is a Hebrew word with vowels (the letters Aleph, Vav, Yod) used as the three "mother letters." Medieval teacher Dunash ibn Tamim thought the mother letters meant the vowel letters. In the primary lessons: In maths and computing: «max» and «min» find the largest and smallest numbers. Everyday: «ten minutes max». On cookers and games: turn it up to max. Phrases: «to the max», «max out», «at the max».

Examples

• The first to perceive that max means vowels was Dunash Ibn 'J'amim *'), who explained that by the three mother letters tPOS the Sefer Yczirah meant the three vowel letters "x. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Informal; in exam writing use «maximum». In maths «max» = the greatest value, «min» = the smallest. «Max» as a name has a capital.